The use of emails has always been increasing ever since its inception in the 1960s. Business communication, circulation of academic information, conveying personal information – almost everything is passed on between individuals or organizations via emails mainly for either or all of the following reasons:
Emails are faster.
Emails are reliable.
Emails ensure that the information reaches the end recipient and, if not, notifies the sender about it.
There is no scope of data loss with emails.
Emails are an excellent means of recording information chronologically.
On the surface, there is nothing to be concerned about in email communication. The accounts of both the sender and the receiver are self-operated and locked by passwords which only both of these parties know. However, with the advancement of useful technology occurs an equal (if not higher) rise in technology which brings vicious attackers and hackers into the picture.
What Is Phishing?
Phishing attacks are just like fishing in a river where a person tries to get hold of a fish by giving it a believable bait of a bread crumb or any similar bit of food. However, in phishing attacks, the fishes are the netizens, and the fishermen are the cyber attackers. Phishing attacks are most commonly circulated via email messages. In such attacks, an unexpected mail from a seemingly credible source asks the receiver to take specific immediate action (such as paying unpaid dues or claiming a reward) by clicking on an attached link or downloading a file. But these are impersonating emails taking the user to fake websites created by the attacker. And often, these install malware into the computers of users. These attacks also happen in other forms like through voice messages (Vishing), SMS frauds (Smishing), attacks targeting the big shots of an organization from whom the profits can be maximum (Whaling) or creating a replica of a website to win the trust of an unsuspecting user (Pharming).
What Is Malware?
Malware is another means used by attackers to install corrupt files and software into the computer systems of users without their permission or against their will. Often malware operates secretly and steals the private information of users without their knowledge. This information is then accessed by the attacker who either uses the data to blackmail the victim, launch a sextortion campaign, or sell the stolen details at a high price in the dark market. Its types include:
Ransomware – which locks the system of the user or encrypts files until the demanded ransom is paid.
Spyware – which launches spying software into the computer and steals data.
Scareware – which attempts to extract user information by instilling fear in them.
Adware – where malware gets downloaded via attacker-created fake advertisements.
What Is Email Security?
Email security is the process of shielding email accounts from the attacks of vicious hackers. It refers to the means employed by a user, an organization, or an information network to keep themselves secure from these phishing attempts and malware attacks.
How To Ensure Email Security?
Email security can never be a fool-proof plan as the attackers always manage to find some loophole even in the most sophisticated methods of protection. However, minimizing such attacks is the objective, and this can be achieved by adopting the following measures:
Setting strong passwords: Strong passwords with alphanumeric characters and symbols are highly recommended. It’s always more important to have secure passwords instead of easy to remember passwords.
Changing passwords from time to time: Using the same password for too long makes you more vulnerable to hacking attempts of attackers. Hence it is always advisable to change passwords from time to time. Also, having different passwords for different accounts is a smarter decision than otherwise.
Having a good antivirus installed: Antivirus software creates a layer of protection against all types of viruses and malware trying to attack your devices. It is a must to have an antivirus when you visit multiple websites on the Internet or install external devices and disks into your computer.
Having anti-spam filters: Anti-spam filters ensure that spam emails or messages do not show up in your mailbox, thus protecting your system from the malicious emails sent by attackers. It also saves you a lot of time and energy that gets wasted otherwise in opening those emails.
Using only updated software: Software developers update software from time to time to incorporate patches and other improvements to make the software secure and more efficient. Not updating one’s software to the latest version is sending an invitation to attackers to steal your files.
Being wise on the web: With everything said and done, the most frugal tip remaining is to be careful on the Internet. One must have a skeptical mind and halt before impulsively clicking on links and pop-ups. A click takes hardly a second, but often its after-effects cost millions of dollars!
Since one cannot do away with emails, one needs to find ways and means of doing away with the threats to email security. Protecting yourselves on the web is not easy but also not unachievable. Taking specific preventive measures goes a long way in keeping attackers and malware away.
Navigating the emerging email cyber threats in 2025
by DuoCircle
No matter how vulnerable email communications get, this mode is here to stay for the coming years. Cybercriminals are very clear about the fact that emails are the backbone of businesses, and that’s exactly why they keep targeting them. With the advent of artificial intelligence, it has become easier for them to send spoofing and phishing emails on behalf of reputable firms, impersonating their employees and CXOs. They are always ahead of the curve and keep devising new strategies and social engineering tactics to manipulate email recipients while evading detection.
In a world where emails are a crucial aspect of communication, making sure your messages get to the right people is more important than ever. Imagine sending a key email to a colleague only for it to get lost in the sea of spam—frustrating, right? That’s where SPF records come into play. They act as a security badge for your emails, showing that they are coming from a trusted source. Creating and managing these records can seem complicated, but with the right tools and guidance, you can easily enhance your email security. Dive in with us as we explore how an SPF record generator can be your best ally in keeping your communications safe and sound.
Running a subscription business is a worthwhile venture, but it equally comes with risks—especially when it comes to cybersecurity. Think payment fraud, account takeovers, and data breaches.
That’s why knowing how to secure your subscription business from online threats is more important than ever.
Update: Microsoft Outlook now joins the email security bandwagon
by DuoCircle
If you have been around in the cybersecurity or email security circle for a while now, you’d recall that back in 2024, major email service providers like Google and Yahoo brought about big changes in the email security landscape to fight cyber threats like spoofing, phishing, and spam.
Trade credit insurance is a crucial tool for businesses that extend credit to customers.
It protects against non-payment, insolvency, and other financial risks that could disrupt cash flow. However, as digital transactions have become the norm, cybercriminals have found new ways to exploit vulnerabilities, particularly through email fraud.
Bypassing DKIM: Understanding replay attacks and how to mitigate them
by DuoCircle
Threat actors always try to stay ahead of the curve and find ways to bypass security protocols. DKIM replay attacks are exactly that. In a DKIM replay attack, a cybercriminal resends a DKIM-signed message to multiple recipients without the emails getting flagged. They generally target highly reputed domains to generate legitimate message signatures. Gmail recipients, in particular, are more likely to receive replayed emails because it greatly prioritizes domain reputation.
Cloud email security refers to the measures and systems implemented to safeguard email communications against threats such as phishing, spam, and malware. It is crucial for organizations, especially those transitioning to cloud-based services like Microsoft 365, as it helps prevent data breaches and ensures the integrity of sensitive information communicated via email.
How do you achieve SPF alignment to enhance email security and deliverability?
by DuoCircle
SPF alignment is one of those behind-the-scenes checks that decides whether your emails will land in the recipients’ inboxes or end up in their spam folders. Since the fate of your outgoing emails is dependent on this, you cannot simply overlook it or, even worse, assume that setting up an SPF record alone is enough.
How do threat actors use SPF policies in BEC attacks?
by DuoCircle
Business email compromise, or BEC, is a sophisticated phishing attack conducted primarily through a combination of social engineering and deception to get access to sensitive data, files, systems, networks, etc. It’s attempted mainly by impersonating a company’s C-suite, instructing executives to share data, or authorizing fraudulent wire transfers. For example- an executive receiving an email from a scammer pretending to be their boss, urgently asking them to buy gift cards and sharing the codes. They think it’s real, but it’s actually a trick to steal money!
Is DKIM2 the next chapter in email authentication?
by DuoCircle
The current version of DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) that you might be using was introduced in 2011. A lot has happened in the cybersecurity world since then. Indeed, we have evolved a lot, but so have the hackers! They’ve become smarter, employing sophisticated tricks to impersonate emails, steal data, and scam companies.
With the rise of remote work, ensuring secure email communication has never been more critical. Cyber threats continue to evolve, making it essential for businesses and remote employees to adopt robust email security measures. Whether you are an organization managing a distributed workforce or an individual working remotely, understanding and implementing best practices for secure email communication can protect sensitive information and prevent cyberattacks.
BIMI enhances email security by allowing brands to display their logos alongside authenticated emails, which helps recipients easily identify legitimate communications and reduces the risk of phishing attacks. To implement BIMI effectively, brands must first establish DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) to prevent domain spoofing and ensure that their emails are properly authenticated.
Every business faces risk. A lawsuit, a contract dispute, or poor financial management can threaten its survival. Without proper protection, owners may lose assets or struggle to recover from legal and financial setbacks.
An SMTP open relay is a mail server configuration that allows users to send emails through the server without authentication, making it vulnerable to exploitation by spammers for sending unsolicited emails. This practice not only leads to increased spam activity but can also compromise the server’s reputation and deliverability rates, necessitating robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
What is IoT email authentication, and why should you care about it?
by DuoCircle
If you look around and notice the gadgets you use every day and how interconnected they are, you will realize that these gadgets are constantly communicating with each other and with users over the internet. Whether it is your smartwatch and your phone or the security camera in your home and the cloud storage service, almost everything that you use is part of the ecosystem that is called IoT or Internet of Things.
In the digital age, emails have become one of our main ways to communicate, whether it’s sharing important updates with colleagues or sending family photos. But imagine sending an email only for it to vanish into the vastness of cyberspace because your domain isn’t set up correctly. That’s where SPF records come in—they act like a security guard at the email gate, verifying that messages sent from your domain are legitimate and keeping spam at bay.
Unintentional DKIM failures: common message modifications that trigger false positives
by DuoCircle
DKIM is highly sensitive to alterations. This sensitivity is what makes DKIM a robust protocol against phishing attacks attempted by changing the email content while it’s in transit. However, sometimes inadvertent modifications happen in transit, which triggers emails to fail DKIM authentication even if a malicious entity hasn’t altered them. This blog lists the common unintentional modifications that lead to false positives.
DKIM works using encryption techniques and digital signatures that help the sender’s server transparently sign outgoing emails so that the recipient’s server can verify if the content has been altered in transit. DKIM is highly sensitive to message modifications; even the slightest difference between the content the sender sent and the recipient received causes DKIM verification to fail.
What are the most important email security protocols, and how do they protect your communications?
by DuoCircle
If you send marketing email campaigns to your clients almost every day, you will know that email is one of the key channels to connect with your audience. But what you might not realize is that it is also the most vulnerable channel that lets cybercriminals in and leaves your entire ecosystem exposed to phishing, spoofing attacks, and data breaches.
