Unveiling 13 Stealthy Cyber Threats Lurking in Your Inbox
In today's digital age, a vast majority of communication comes in the form of emails, from simple messages to confidential information, our emails hold the day-to-day information needed to run your business. Many consider the role cybersecurity plays in internal and business-related emails, but what about the emails that slip past your technological walls? Knowledge of the various attack tactics you may come across can help you be aware of the possibility of illegitimate emails.
Common Threats Hidden In You Inbox
- Phishing Attacks - Deceptive emails disguised as trustworthy entities, with the goal of tricking recipients into revealing sensitive information.
- Spear Phishing - A type of phishing attack, targeted attacks designed for specific individuals or organizations, making them harder to detect.
- Whaling - A tactic in which cyber criminals target high profile individuals within an organization. Aiming for "big-fish" to potentially gain access to sensitive data.
- Business Email Compromise (BEC) - Sophisticated scams that impersonate executives or trusted contacts in order to manipulate employees into transferring funds or divulging confidential information.
- Malware Infected Emails - Infected attachments or links in emails can unleash malware and compromise the security of the recipient's system.
- Ransomware - Emails containing malicious links or attachments that can install ransomware, encrypting system files and demanding payment for their release.
- Man-in-the-Middle Attacks - Cybercriminals intercept communication between two parties, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information.
- Email Spoofing - Attackers manipulate email headers to make messages appear as if they come from a legitimate source.
- Email Bombs - The tactic of overwhelming an inbox with a flood of emails that can disrupt normal operations and cause chaos.
- Credential Harvesting - Emails that trick users into providing login credentials, leading to unauthorized access by the cybercriminal.
- Typosquatting - Attackers register domain names with slight misspellings of legitimate ones to deceive users into clicking on malicious links.
- Zero-Day Exploits - Cybercriminals target vulnerabilities in email platforms before developers can patch them.
- Social Engineering - Manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information through psychological manipulation.
In the face of these threats, users must stay vigilent, employ robust security measures, and engage in ongoing education to safeguard their digital communication channels from these stealthy cyber attackers.
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