Many people think of email as an unsecure and unreliable form of communication, but the truth is that it can still be a very effective way to send messages. However, this makes it all the more important that you protect yourself from dangerous email attacks by understanding what makes them work so well and taking steps to ensure your own safety.
Use a phishing awareness program.
A phishing awareness program is a series of training sessions that help employees recognize and avoid email scams. It’s important to have one because phishing attacks are on the rise, and they can be very dangerous if you don’t know how to protect yourself from them.
If you’re going to implement a phishing awareness program, here are some tips:
- Don’t rely on your users’ instincts; train them instead! There’s nothing wrong with trusting people who know what they’re doing, but if everyone has access to the same information and still falls for phishing emails anyway…well then there must be something else going on here. It might be time for some education!
Train your employees to recognize the warning signs of a phishing attack.
- Train your employees to recognize the warning signs of a phishing attack.
- Tell them to report suspicious emails right away, and never click on links or attachments in emails they don’t trust.
- Don’t rely on automated spam filters to detect phishing attacks–they can be fooled by sophisticated phishing messages that look like legitimate ones.
Ensure that everyone in your organization knows how to spot an email scam and report it when they see one.
To ensure that everyone in your organization knows how to spot an email scam and report it when they see one, you should make sure that employees are trained on how to identify a scam. This training can be as simple as sending out a few emails with the subject line “Warning: Scam” or “Beware of Email Scams.”
If someone receives an email from someone claiming to be from a legitimate company or organization, but something about the message seems off–and you don’t think it’s real–you should tell them so by reporting the suspicious email via email or phone call directly with your company’s IT department (if available).
Implement strong cybersecurity measures to protect your company and data.
- Use a secure email service.
- Use two-factor authentication.
- Use a password manager to create strong passwords for all your accounts and to keep track of them in one place, which makes it easier for you to change them when necessary.
- Make sure that any devices connected to the internet have antivirus programs installed and kept up-to-date with the latest patches so they can protect against malware attacks like phishing emails or ransomware (malicious software used by cybercriminals).
- Install firewalls on all networked computers and servers, as well as antivirus programs on desktop computers used outside the office (especially laptops). These measures will help prevent unauthorized access from inside or outside your organization’s network–which could lead directly into sensitive data if not protected properly!
Provide security training to new employees before they’re allowed on the network.
One of the most effective ways to defend against phishing attacks is by educating new employees on how they can protect themselves.
- Provide security training before they’re allowed on the network.
- Train new employees to be aware of phishing attacks and what red flags to look for when receiving an email from someone they don’t know.
- Train them how to report any suspicious emails they receive.
You can protect yourself from email attacks by understanding what makes them effective, taking precautions and making sure you have adequate security measures in place.
You can protect yourself from email attacks by understanding what makes them effective, taking precautions and making sure you have adequate security measures in place.
In a professional tone:
- Know the risks of an email attack. Email scams are a growing problem because they’re so easy to perpetrate, especially with the rise of social media platforms that allow users to connect with people they don’t know offline. The biggest risk comes when you click on links within emails or attachments–these can be used by criminals as a way into your computer system (think: ransomware). They might also ask for sensitive information such as passwords or bank account numbers over email which could lead to identity theft if shared with unauthorized third parties.
Email attacks are designed to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment, but knowing how they work can help you avoid becoming a victim. By taking the proper precautions and training employees on how to spot phishing emails, your organization can protect itself from these sneaky threats.
