5 Cyber Security Threats Every Business Should Look Out For

Did you know that email is used by more than 4.5 billion people worldwide?   And almost 80% of companies use it as their main way to find and retain customers. With numbers like that, it’s no surprise that hackers and scammers will find ways to take advantage of you.   

These scammers utilize unsolicited emails, malicious links, and other methods to gain access to your network and steal your personal information, files, and other valuable resources. 

Therefore, you must be proactive in order to prevent becoming their next victim.  

We’re going to cover 5 of the most common email threats that affect people in every role and industry each and every day.   We’ll also provide helpful preventive advice or solutions for each threat. 

1. Spam

Starting off with the oldest and most aggravating threat: spam. Spam is defined as unwanted or unsolicited messages advertising various items and services, the majority of which are bogus. Some even include trojans and other viruses that look like attachments.

These emails overload mailboxes with trash that serves no value for professionals and simply wastes their time or reduces their productivity.

To give you an idea of how huge of a threat spam is, the statistics don’t lie: 

• According to Statista, over 60% of email traffic volume is spam.  
• Mailmodo reported that one spam email generates almost 0.03g of carbon monoxide. In 2021, almost 4.5 tons of carbon dioxide were released alone as a result of spam.
• Less than a quarter of spam mails are genuine. Around 73% are phishing emails, with the remaining 2.5% being fraud.

The unfortunate reality is that there is no way to completely eliminate spam in your inbox. You can protect yourself by reporting, blocking, and deleting questionable emails; and using a third-party email filter, such as SpamTitan, Xeams, Spambrella, and others.

2. Spoof emails

Spoofing is one of the most common email marketing risks sweeping the web today. Spoofs are lookalike emails used by scammers and hackers to impersonate actual brands. They entice readers to share personal information or make a purchase on bogus landing pages linked within the emails. 

• Every day, almost 3.1 billion domain spoofing emails are sent worldwide, according to Proof Point. 
• Approximately 25% of professionals and businesses receive B2B spoof emails on a weekly basis.

Unfortunately, the only way to avoid theft or damage caused by spoofing emails is to exercise caution. This covers straightforward methods such as: 

• Using trustworthy brands for products and services 
• Identifying bogus links by hovering your cursor over the link to see the actual URL 
• Calling businesses directly to confirm the content of a branded email 

3. DDoS and botnet attacks

In order to send out enormous spam and phishing operations that can overwhelm systems, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks often use internet-connected botnets.  

• According to Secure List, over 78,000 DDoS assaults were directed at US firms alone in Q2 2022.
• And around 70% of organizations endure 20-50 DDoS attacks each month.

Most DDoS attacks through email happen when attackers get their hands on IP addresses.  As a result, one of the easiest methods to avoid them is to use free VPN software, which allows you to browse and use emails anonymously.

4. Phishing 

Since the early 2000s, one of the most common email threats has been phishing. It uses social engineering and other strategies to deceive people into giving personal information that could lead to the theft of their money, data, or identities.  

Here are some intriguing phishing statistics: 

• According to a 2021 Tessian study, employees receive approximately 14 phishing emails per year on average. 
• According to Cisco’s 2021 Cybersecurity Trends Report, at least one employee clicks a phishing link in nearly 86% of organizations.

Phishing assaults are avoidable if you know how to spot them. Most attackers, for example, use unfamiliar URLs or make offers that are simply too good to be true. Among the recommended preventive measures are: 

• Do not click on suspicious links or popups. 
• Do not share your information on sites that are not HTTPS secure. 

5. Business email compromise (BEC)

Since COVID-19 began, the number of BEC attacks has grown by a factor of 10. This is because more people are working from home. These assaults resemble phishing. Their only motivation, however, is to steal money from businesses. BEC attackers pose as high-ranking executives and other titles and persuade staff to create bogus financial records and accounts. 

Here are some noteworthy BEC assault statistics: 

• According to Id Agent, nearly 77% of businesses faced BEC attacks in 2021.
• The FBI recorded over $2.4 billion in theft by BEC assaults in 2021.

There are many ways to stop BEC attacks. The most straightforward method is to confirm the request via another channel, such as a phone call. Second, double-check the email address for spelling mistakes. 

However, using paid business email accounts and implementing multi-factor authentication are the best strategies to defend against BEC assaults. 

Honorary mention: Malware

Malware is the final threat on our list. Malware is sent with one goal in mind: to disrupt business operations. Hackers use links, popups, and email attachments to fool victims into installing ransomware, adware, and spyware. 

Some facts you should know about malware include:  

• Nearly 46% of businesses and professionals receive malware via email, according to Phishing Box.
• According to Cleard In, about 1 in every 100 opened emails contain malware.

Every business should have effective anti-malware software operating on their devices at all times. It can help identify and get rid of threats before they happen. As far as prevention goes, it’s all about caution and due diligence. 

When using email, you should be especially watchful of shady files, odd URLs, misspellings, and unrealistic offers. 

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the 6 most dangerous threats that email marketers face, you can take more proactive steps to protect yourself. Email marketing will remain dominant in the business world.  So, it’s up to you to learn about cybersecurity threats and how to prevent it.

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