Could your email be hacked? Has it been hacked? We have some tips on how to ensure email security because if you’re like most of us, you will send and receive emails – perhaps hundreds of them – on a daily basis. Email is convenient and quick.

Because there is so much traffic it is an attractive and easy way for a hacker to target. Cybercriminals can hijack your email, gain access to your address book then steal your personal and private information. Also, when they get into your address book, you have inadvertently opened the door for your friends, family and colleagues for a hack.

What can you to do enhance its security?

Your email is an easy way for a hacker to get into your computer or your company’s computer. Once they get in they can put their tentacles out and infiltrate your data and cause irreversible damage.

How To Ensure Email Security: 5 Tips

What steps can you take to protect yourself and up the security of messages you’re sending or receiving?

1. How many marketing aka spams come into your inbox daily? Dozens, hundreds? With a spam or marketing email, if you’re opening these messages and if you – please don’t! – clicking a link or even opening the email you are cracking open the door for the hacker. Spam and marketing message can be phishing emails and those can contain harmful links, that if you click on them, you have opened the door for a hacker. A spam filter can remove many of those emails, but there are spammers that are so sneaky they disguise their phishing emails as something that could be relevant to you. How many times have you seen an email from “Paypal” that says in the subject line that your account has been frozen? Or have you received emails that look legitimate from your bank or your credit card company? Those are phishing messages. Your bank won’t send you an email about your account and if you get one, go to the site itself and check your account.
2. Use anti-virus protection. A spam filter can separate those that appear fraudulent, but the spam will remain in your computer until you delete it. If you, mistakenly click on spam message that has a virus, it can quickly spread into your entire computer system and into your employer’s system. Using a powerful anti-virus software can help protect your data. An anti-virus software scans both incoming and outgoing emails and identifies them if they are malicious and eliminates the virus before it causes harm.
3. If you receive an image, don’t click it because there could be an embedded link that can infiltrate your computer system. Many phishing scams have happened because the hackers are able to transmit malicious programs through images and attachments. Don’t click on images or links – bottom line – even if appears to be from a reliable source.

How do you protect yourself? You certainly can’t get away from it, right? That’s why you need to protect your email inbox.

1. Use data encryption. Many providers offer it for free or as an add on service. Once an email leaves your inbox it becomes vulnerable to attack while it’s in transit. Data encryption makes it harder for the cybercriminal to read and intercept emails. Organizations and individuals should install encryption on the computer networks.
2. Choose a secure email provider. There are many free providers and they may not offer data encryption. It is worth it to upgrade and pay for encryption. If you can prevent even one cyberattack, the cost will be worth it, right?

Bottom line

Phishing attempts and cyberattacks are on the rise and are becoming more common. We know that close to 80% of all businesses will suffer a cyberattack at some point. Do you want to be in that realm?

Remember, hackers don’t go after only the “big guys.” In fact, smaller businesses are easier targets because they may be lax with security, don’t have an IT department or are unaware of how to securely encrypt and protect email and other company data.

WareGeeks Solutions is a Roselle, New Jersey-based full-service IT Solutions and Service Provider.
We specialize in Data Protection, specifically Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) and Cyber Security. We work with all small, medium, and large companies. We conduct a multi-level risk analysis that identifies processes procedures and/or technology that stifle productivity with oppressive layers of complexity. If you have IT or security questions contact Seth at WareGeeks Solutions. For information or a consultation, call (877) 653-7146, or email us at info@waregeeks.com. www.waregeeks.com