With email being the biggest business productivity tool out there, it’s no surprise that it’s also the main vehicle for cybercrime. Email phishing is the most common type of online exploitation, which grew by 173% in Q3 of 2023 compared to the previous quarter of the same year!

Google blocks about 100 million phishing emails every single day. That’s a huge number for just one platform. Most of us suffer from email overload, but it’s also the medium which feels safe and secure. There’s something about email that feels personal, it’s addressed to us and is now in our virtual – and physical – space. Which is probably why it’s such a successful tool for phishing.

Often we’re responding or taking action on an email in a rush. A quick email reply before lunch break, or rushing to a meeting. It’s those that catch us unawares. Various recent studies have looked into what causes the bulk of data breaches, and unfortunately, it’s us, users. Some say it’s about 88%, whereas others put the number closer to 95% of data breaches are caused by human error.

Here are five tactics and tools to help strengthen your organization’s IT security on the email front:

1. Employee education

Most of us are generally overwhelmed with emails. And often we respond in a rush, trusting that the email is from a reliable source, bearing honest information. Taking that for granted is exactly what cyber-criminals rely on. This is why an employee education and awareness program is absolutely crucial when it comes to internet security. Even the most savvy technology users get caught out, because criminals have one job, and that’s to catch us in a brief moment of unawareness or to make victims of the ignorant.

While it seems insignificant, it’s things like checking sender email addresses, opening attachments with caution, or checking links before, that could halt a data breach. Seemingly obvious, it’s those things that are at the heart of email phishing scams.

2. The wolf in CEO’s clothing

More and more, the Chief Executive of a company is targeted by hackers. Often, the CEO’s IT profile has access to all data systems, so it’s the most valuable access point. When executives are used for phishing, it’s known as ‘whaling’. Impersonating the CEO or top brass is also a brilliantly simple method to trick employees into providing information and access. Who’s going to say no to the CEO? Hackers will create a fake email account and request information from appropriate staff members.

Making employees aware of this sort of thing should form part of an education program, but it’s also a good idea to grant limited access to key systems. Creating silos of users who use a particular system is recommended, or allowing system access for a limited period. Allowing one profile (or more) complete access to all systems all the time is creating a massive platform for risk. Limited access protects the user and the organization. 

3. Cyber threat intelligence in cybersecurity

In cybersecurity, the evolution of algorithmic approaches and the integration of cyber threat intelligence have become essential in combating sophisticated hacker tactics. Modern algorithms now focus on core characteristics rather than just content, employing AI to identify impersonations in writing style and language. This is combined with pattern analysis to block malicious emails. Concurrently, cyber threat intelligence, which analyses the motives, targets, and methods of attackers, has become a crucial defense layer. 

As attackers use advanced methods like legitimate domain emails and clean IP addresses, it’s vital to have robust security systems that blend advanced algorithmic analysis with continuous threat intelligence, and human experts still play a huge role here, to effectively detect and counter hacker activities.

4. View email as just one piece of the security puzzle

While email is a useful tool to access an organization’s assets, it’s not the only one. But it’s important to ensure that all avenues are coordinated to block threats, from cloud applications, to websites accessed by employees. And technology systems are also only one aspect of cybersecurity. Much of an organization’s protection lies in ensuring staff is vigilant and educated. Email security should not be a silo, but rather it should be integrated into the bigger picture of the entire technology environment, which should be integrated into the company culture.

5. A multi-layered approach with emphasis on attachment scanning

In enhancing email security, a multi-layered approach is paramount, with a significant emphasis on the vigilant scanning of attachments. These attachments are often the carriers of malware and other cyber threats. Advanced scanning techniques are crucial, utilizing not only traditional malware signature detection but also heuristic analysis to identify new, unknown threats. This involves examining attachments in a controlled environment, or ‘sandboxing’, to detect any malicious behavior.

Additionally, this multi-layered strategy should integrate robust phishing detection, continuous cyber threat intelligence updates, and stringent access controls, ensuring a comprehensive defense against the diverse and evolving nature of email-based threats. 

Attackers excel in presenting an innocent front in a phishing email, and it requires not only smart systems in place, but human smarts at every level to keep a company’s data assets secure. Cybersecurity walks the fine line between maintaining efficiency and avoiding user frustration, while also keeping an organization’s key assets safe.

Contact our team of experts to learn more about developing a comprehensive cybersecurity training program for your business.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechRadar.org SOURCE

Cybersecurity Awareness Month has been celebrated in October since 2002. It’s a time for everyone, from everyday internet dwellers to private companies, to come together and work to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity in the world we live in.

Today I’ll take a look at the four biggest security mistakes that, even now, people still make, and explain why they’re so risky.

Mistake #1: reusing passwords across accounts

In a world where security breaches are a common occurrence, reusing passwords is one of the most dangerous digital habits to have.

Using the same password across multiple accounts means that a cybercriminal only needs that one password to access your entire digital life.

It’s hard to remember all of your login credentials, sure, especially if you have dozens of them – and when many sites force you to create a 14-digit combination of numbers, special characters, and capital letters.

Luckily, this is where password managers come into their own, and I consider them a vital addition to your online security toolkit.

Mistake #2: not updating software

This might seem like a relatively innocuous sin in the grand scheme of things. So you haven’t updated your copy of Windows since you installed it, or that copy of Acrobat Reader that sits quietly in the background until you need to view a PDF. What harm could that possibly do?

The answer is far more serious than you might think. As well as bug fixes, updates often contain security patches that block newly discovered vulnerabilities.

In fact, many hackers rely on people not updating their software, because that leaves them with an easy way to access your system and steal your data or install something malicious.

Getting through these updates can be a pain – especially if you’re unable to use your device for a little while – but keeping up with them is a no-brainer if you value your digital privacy.

Fake emails and phishing attacks are growing ever more sophisticated. Many of us are bombarded by emails claiming to be from delivery companies, banks, and even family and friends, all of them encouraging us to click on a link to verify delivery, check our bank statements, or send money to help with a broken down car.

Don’t click links in emails if it’s a message you’re not expecting or from an address you don’t recognize

At the risk of repeating what has been said many times in the past, please don’t click on links in emails if it’s one you’re not expecting, or it comes from an address you don’t recognize.

These links will send you to fake sites that exist solely to harvest your personal data and login details and, if you’re still making the mistake of using shared passwords, you might have just compromised all of your accounts.

Mistake #4: not using a VPN on public Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is everywhere, in every shop, pub, bus, train, and office, inviting you to connect and browse the internet. But how do you know that the open Wi-Fi hotspot you’re connecting to is what it claims to be?

Sure, some of them have a confirmation page that reassures you you’re connecting to the real thing, but it’s shockingly easy to make a fake webpage. There’s also the simple truth that if a Wi-Fi point is completely open then you have no idea who might be connected to it, who might be trying to peek at your browsing habits or your messages to see what information you’re sharing.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechRadar.com SOURCE