Email Security: 7 Biggest Threats

Email security needs to be updated and changed according to the attack landscape for the best protection. To avoid cyberattacks, businesses must be aware of the seven most serious threats to email security. Avoid these seven email risks and ensure email security: Client-side attacks, malicious attachments, ransomware attacks, misconfiguration, browser exploits, and file format exploits are all examples of client-side attacks.

1. Domain Squatting (Cybersquatting)

Domain squatting is registering, selling, or using a domain name to profit from someone else’s trademark. Companies or their customers can be victims of cybersquatting and target-oriented spear phishing attacks. Hence, email security can be at risk!

2. Client-Side Attacks

These attacks target vulnerabilities in client applications that interact with a malicious server or data. In client-side attacks, the client launches an attack action. This includes attack vectors such as internet browsers, media players, Adobe, Java, etc., and client-side tools for Internet users.

3. Malicious Attachments

Cybercriminals attach files to emails. Hence, malware capable of destroying data and stealing information also infects systems. Some of this malware can allow criminals to take control of the user’s computer. Because, they give them access to the screen and the ability to capture keystrokes, and access other network systems. Cybercriminals use basic social engineering principles to send these malicious emails. They simply convince users to believe they are communicating legitimately.

4. Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware that prevents users from entering their systems. Therefore, without a ransom being paid, cyber criminals either lock the system’s screen or the users’ files. Ransomware is a sort of data kidnapping software. Unlike other types of attacks, the aim of ransomware attacks is financial.

5. Misconfiguration

Web servers and applications that have been misconfigured probably lead to many problems:

Standard relay

Sender address using literal domain address (of localhost)

Mail Bombing

The sender’s domain is localhost

Sender address without the domain (a local user)

Sender address uses local hostname and recipient uses percent hack

The recipient address uses a UUCP-like destination (“bang path”)

The sender address is null (like from Mailer-Daemon)

Sender address uses local hostname

6. Browser Exploits

A browser exploit (or browser hijacking; a drive-by download) is a form of malicious code. It takes advantage of either flaws or vulnerabilities in an operating system. Moreover, it possibly takes advantage of a piece of software with the intent to alter your browser settings without your knowledge. Also, it sometimes contains a link or an abused piece of code.

7. File Format Exploits

File format exploits have been one of the primary information security threats for many enterprises. Attackers exploiting these vulnerabilities create carefully crafted malicious files as a result. These files trigger flaws (such as buffer overflows) in applications. The vulnerabilities are significantly alarming because they often cross platforms. For example, a file format vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat might allow an attacker to create a single malicious PDF file that compromises Windows, Macintosh, and Linux systems.

Solution: Keepnet Labs’ Email Threat Simulator (ETS) for Email Security

Security devices are services. Therefore, they require regular checks and maintenance beyond being plugged in and running. Furthermore, they must be regularly tested and improved against popular risks.

You can use Keepnet’s Email Threat Simulator service to test your email service and its components (Antispam, Antivirus, APT Products) against the cybercriminal’s risks to see the above-mentioned big picture.

Keepnet Labs Email Threat Simulator does not operate by involving the traffic between client and server. Security audits carried out by intervening with traffic are insufficient for antispam, antivirus, and email services. Hence, the Keepnet Email Threat Simulator service provides real-world cyber security risks.

Keepnet Labs’ Email Threat Simulator offers some unique methods:

It checks for incorrect configuration options.

Systems that test active network devices by moving traffic are insufficient. So, this lack is sustained by real attack vectors by Keepnet Labs.

It reports intrusions with domain squatting features and its integrated cyber intelligence services

There are full integration options for organizations that have shut down services such as Pop3 and Imap to the outside world and offer web-based email access to their users. Hence, to connect to the test email box, the integration with the “Outlook Web Access” option is the right solution.