Cyber Security 101 - Tip 3

Email Security.

  

Emails are commonly used as a medium for the spread of malware, spam, and phishing attacks, using deceptive messages to entice recipients to divulge sensitive information, open attachments or click on hyperlinks that install malware on the victim’s device. Email is also a common entry vector for attackers looking to gain a foothold in an enterprise network and breach valuable company data.

It is critical that enterprises and individuals take measures to secure their email accounts against common attacks as well as attempts at unauthorized access to accounts or communications. Here are some tips you should follow to ensure you don’t fall victim to cyber-attacks via email:

·       Never open attachments or click on links in email messages from unknown senders.

·       Try to send as little sensitive information as possible via email, and send sensitive information only to recipients who require it.

·       Use spam filters and anti-virus software.

·       Avoid accessing company email from public Wi-Fi connections.

·       Don’t reveal personal or financial information in an email, and do not respond to email solicitations for this information. This includes following links sent in email

·       Before sending sensitive information over the Internet, check the security of the website.

·       Pay attention to a website's URL. Malicious websites may look identical to a legitimate site, but the URL may use a variation in spelling or a different domain (e.g., .com versus .net).

·       Keep a clean machine. Having the latest operating system, software, web browsers, anti-virus protection and apps are the best defenses against viruses, malware, and other online threats.

·       Make your password a sentence: A strong password is a sentence that is at least 12 characters long. Focus on positive sentences or phrases that you like to think about and are easy to remember (for example, “I love country music.”). On many sites, you can even use spaces!