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With the Rise of Email Phishing Attacks, What Are the Best Ways To Secure Your Email?

One of the most common security challenges is phishing attacks, which both companies and individuals can face while trying to keep their information secure. Hackers can use email, phone calls, social media, or any other form of communication to try and get access to credit cards, passwords, or other sensitive information that is not usually shared with strangers so lightly.

Here are some of the best ways you can protect your email as phishing attacks are rising now more than ever.

What are phishers and what is their goal?

Phishers try to persuade you not to take any action against them through tricks and manipulation, so they could gain access to your device and personal information, mostly through email. Usually, scammers pretend to be an organization or a person you trust which can put you in a more vulnerable position even more and infect you with potential malware.

Basically, these hackers are trying to lure you by creating a “trust” and then steal your valuable information. They can either manipulate you through any means necessary which includes social media, or a worse situation where they take your entire identity by using your social security number. It is advisable to always be on your guard, especially if you have important correspondence over email messages with your business partners.

Ways in which you can protect your information

Victims can be tricked by phishing into giving over their information for all sorts of sensitive accounts, in this case, email. It is sometimes very difficult to detect a phishing attack even for individuals that are usually very cautious.

Over time, these attacks can become quite sophisticated and scammers find ways to filter themselves through convincing messages which can as a result bring harm to the sender and recipient of the email communication. By reading further, you will learn about some basic measures which can always be used as protection with your emails.

Using S/MIME certificates

The simplest way would be to use IdenTrust Secure Email certificates, or S/MIME for short. It is used to encrypt and sign an email correspondence.  S/MIME certificate is being issued to the email address which you have confirmed. In case this sounds appealing to you, we found Email Signing Certificates (S/MIME) well priced at ssltrust which may spark your interest. This type of technology will provide assurance to the receiver of your message that the email has been sent from the email address you have previously verified. As a result, any sensitive information exchange will be protected. By adding a routine where the sender would sign emails by using Secure Email certificates and where the intended reader of the email would confirm the signature will create the assurance that the imposter has not stolen any of the information found in the sender’s email.

Pay attention to email content

If you receive an alarming message, it would be wise not to trust it. The majority of well-known companies will not ask for account details or personally identifiable information through email messages. These types of scams would usually aim for your insurance company, bank account, or information about the company you do business with.

In case that you do receive an email asking you for any type of information dealing with an account, follow these rules, delete it immediately, and then get in contact with the company to make sure that your account is alright.

The same would apply in the case you receive any types of links via email message. Have in mind that these links can be harmful and instead of clicking, type in the browser the address so you could check if the URL is actually safe and if it is real.

These were some basic and yet effective tips on how to secure your email information from phishing attacks. Being more educated on the matter and keeping your eyes open will definitely help you and the email recipient to stay protected from these malicious acts. There is no need to be discouraged though, all precautionary measures, if applied properly will be more than useful.

 

Staff Writer at CPO Magazine