Emails nowadays are a very common method of conveying messages. More importantly, when we try to have a private conversation and exchanging important files and information we try to use the method of email. But what about the security of this method?
As we think that the emails are a more secure form of a conversation between two or more parties but this might not be the case. The Invisible Web, Dark Internet, and Deep Web refer to the dark minds and criminals that are all over the internet, waiting to steal your information and corrupt your device.
This threat was always there but in the recent times, the scamming and criminal activities on the internet are more taken place through the emails. Therefore as a research, the user of email have more threat of stealing or corrupting the information than anyone else or any other method.
Who is the average email user?
According to the research the average internet and email users have not very much to worry about as they have not much to be stolen from. On the other hand, they can make their system more secure by using the regular internet protection system such as firewall, malware, hotspot etc.
Little efforts must be taken by the regular internet users to protect themselves from a major loss. But the scammers and hackers are indirectly affecting the regular users by targeting the Online shopping sites, Banks, online transaction etc. so that they can get valuable information as well as a monetary benefit which can involve your money or money related information.
What can be done to protect emails?
As a user, you cannot do much if the entire system is hacked but you can contribute a lot to your own safety and the safety of your emails and computers. Some of the security measures are listed as below;
1. Don’t open any unfamiliar email or link or attachment which you’re not sure of such as:
• Lottery offer
• Claim a winning price
• Get a free vacation
• Offers from any king from African country etc.
2. Don’t open and go after an endless link because it can have a potential virus. This email can be sound or seen familiar such as one from your contact, family or friend. Any social media pop up or any video or meme which is sent in an email and it is unnecessary to open must be avoided.
3. If you use your office files and documents from your own PC or laptop or use bank related work through it, invest a little on the security software which might charge a little but saves a lot of your information.
4. Try not to expose your security by using any free or public internet. A free or public internet is an open web which makes sure the person falls in.
5. If you are using any local internet services make sure to use a reliable one. Especially in case you are working on the international business and your internet connection is local, there are more chances of a security breach as the rules and laws do not apply to the local internet service provider.
How email encryption is beneficial for you?
The encryption is a method of converting the actual or original message having the regular text and changing into the encoded one. The format of the text is changed from the language such as English into the algorithm which is a type of formula.
Now, when the message is encrypted, it is least chances of the text to be converted to the actual text other than the person who has the authority or permission to decrypt. Decryption is a process of translating the encrypted code into the actual text. Therefore the information sent and received will remain in the safe hands and the scammers and hackers cannot do anything about it.
There are certain laws and rules applied to the delivery and receiving of mails of U.S. Postal Services and in case someone breaches it the law applies to him or her. But there are no rules and laws applied on the emails and that is why email scamming is very common these days.
Similarly, the emails are more vulnerable. Even in the cloud, when the senders send the email and the receiver has not opened it; the email sits on the cloud and waits to be opened. The changes or polluting can be done there as well.
A study shows that the emails are more likely to be attacked due to three major reasons:
1. Almost 20 to 25 percent of emails have attachments and these are about 98 percent of the email traffic volume.
2. The most importantly the users and employers think that the hard drive can be damaged or the data can be lost but the emails are safer. Therefore the emails mostly contain important stuff, especially the attached files.
3. The email attachments contain the 75% of the intellectual property of the organization.
How to secure emails?
On the other hand, there are some measures which must be applied in long term to avoid the hacking and encryption of the emails.
The emails can be secured to some extent by applying the following tips:
1. Use Virtual Private Network (VPN):
Avoid taking local internet; instead use VPN if the business is small. This will help the company move their data without the threat of hackers.
2. Use Outlook:
Outlook helps you defend your system from the unknown emails and attachment by doing simple setting you can stop seeing the emails of the unknown sender and unsafe attachments.
3. Encryption Software:
Some encryption software is available on the internet and it will help you secure the most important information and emails.
4. Use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS):
The Microsoft Trust Center helps you secure your emails, links, and information more by applying simple tips and tricks.
This post was submitted by Muhammad Shoaib of Top10BestPro.