Mimecast - Email Security - July

In an age where social networking sites readily display our personal information and email addresses, and where it's possible to check emails on the go from a tablet computer or mobile phone, it can be easy to forget about the consequences of our information falling into the wrong hands. To prevent such a situation, this article will address the most common flaws in email security, and the ways in which you can make sure you're protected.

Designated email accounts

A lot of people, usually those new to computing, think that they only need one email address, but assuming that you use the Internet for work, social networking and online shopping, that single account will be full of spam emails in no time, so the best way to go about things is to have a separate email account for each activity.

Failing to close the browser

The Internet can be accessed in a myriad of ways these days, including cybercafés, which can be found on many of our high streets. While these provide a great service, the risks are a lot higher than when you are at home. To ensure that you are not going to fall victim to any unpleasantness, make sure that you not only log out of your email account, but also completely close the browser. Failure to do so may result in your details still being present on the screen when someone else logs on.

Suspect emails

This one catches a large number of people out, primarily because there are so many different email scams being run. The soundest advice is, if you feel it looks dodgy, then it probably is, so don't open it. The problem is that many of these scam emails look genuine; among the most common are emails that will say something along the lines of: 'your account has been suspended'. If you see such an email, don't open it as the chances are that it will contain a virus. If you do open a suspect email, make sure you don't open any attachments or reply to it.

Serial Spammers

Emails which advertise contests, surveys and free offers are usually just a tool for passing your email address onto other companies, which will result in your account being inundated with spam.

Card/Bank Details

You should never give out any personal bank details via email. Some emails claim to be from your bank, but a reputable high street bank will never ask you for information via email, if you are not sure simply phone them directly. For online purchases, the safest method is to sign up for a PayPal account, rather than constantly giving out your card details to different companies online.

Watch what you write.

If you want to let off steam at a colleague or anyone for that matter, don't act too hastily. Remember that emails can be forwarded onto an infinite amount of people and could come back to bite you in the future!

The cloud

There are many other ways to protect your emails. One system that has become increasingly popular, especially for businesses, is cloud-based email risk mitigation. Effectively, by storing emails in a cloud (basically multiple servers linked via a digital network) you can control and manage what enters your network more effectively. In this way cloud security could help keep your business safe

Make sure you are protected online from potential breaches to your email security. Businesses and individuals alike can fall victim through simply opening an email. Make sure you are protected with a robust antivirus and anti-spam filter and remember the points in this article to stay safe.