Email Security 2024

Let's put ourselves in a bit of context...

Email continues to be the primary entry point for cyberattacks in companies. Phishing attacks accounted for 55% of the total threats in 2022, according to this Europa Press news article.

Cyberattacks through email mostly occur when falling into the trap of identity spoofing, downloading an attached file that executes malware upon opening, or clicking on a link containing a computer virus. All it takes is for a user or employee to perform one of these actions from their company computer for cybercriminals to infect the rest of the company's computers, gaining access to the entire IT infrastructure.

Furthermore, the advent of Artificial Intelligence-powered tools like ChatGPT has led to a 50% increase in phishing attacks in the last year, as it enables cybercriminals to create phishing emails more quickly, efficiently, and convincingly, as explained in this article by La Vanguardia.

Looking at the 2023 landscape, it is expected that in 2024, due to the high effectiveness of these types of cyberattacks, they will continue to increase, and in a more sophisticated manner. This is why email security will become an essential measure for any company or user looking to protect their data and information.

Email Security Measures for 2024

Essential: Implementing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an additional layer of security to email, requiring a second verification to access it, such as a code sent directly to your phone, in addition to your regular password.

Having end-to-end encrypted emails

End-to-end encrypted emails ensure that only the recipients can decrypt the received emails, so even if the system is subject to a cyberattack, that information remains secure.

Keep updates up to date (don't procrastinate)

Keeping systems up to date helps in system security, as it will be updated with the latest versions and security patches, capable of detecting known vulnerabilities but also new ones.

Awareness and education, the key to prevention.

"In most cases, the entry of malware due to phishing attacks is due to the employees' lack of knowledge or training. Training and educating them about the types of threats they face in their daily work will keep them vigilant, enabling them to detect threats in time.

At ESED, we offer a specific cybersecurity certification for employees through our ESED Training service.

Important: Configure spam filters

Configure effective spam filters to eliminate unwanted emails before they reach your inbox. This is what our AI-powered antiphishing solution does. We deploy a system that modifies the email reception flow to ensure that only emails filtered by our system are accepted, rejecting any direct attempts to send emails to the addresses we want to protect, so that all emails that reach users are always filtered.

Review all your passwords

There are some commandments about passwords that you should always follow. Repeat with us:

• I will not use the same password for everything.

• I will use a password manager.

• I will never share passwords through chat or Excel, always through a password manager or with properly encrypted emails.

• I will use long passwords that are not related to personal information that anyone could know.

By taking these actions, the vulnerability of your passwords decreases considerably. Additionally, there are platforms to check if your password has been hacked."

Limit the information you send by email

Emails are a means of communication to exchange information, however, this information can be easily exposed. For this reason, you should establish strict privacy policies in your company, taking security and encryption measures to share certain information. Only in this way, in the event of a cyberattack, it will be properly protected.

Don't forget to back up your emails

Cybersecurity systems are not 100% reliable because zero-day attacks emerge every day for which they are not yet prepared. For this reason, it's important to back up all your information, including emails. This way, in case of a cyberattack, you can recover it quickly.

Implement antivirus and firewall solutions

Use up-to-date antivirus software and a firewall to protect your computer from malware that can come through malicious emails

At ESED, we work with XDR for Endpoint, one of the latest antivirus solutions on the market, which allows us to trace the origin of the threat, isolate devices at risk, prevent its spread, and automatically eliminate it.

Furthermore, our firewall solution is based on Deep Learning technology, enabling us to rapidly and effectively detect unknown malware hidden in suspicious payloads.

By following the previous recommendations and starting to review your email security in this last quarter of 2023, you will achieve the protection your email needs for 2024, thus minimizing phishing threats and the risk of a cyberattack.

Furthermore, we offer a free security audit so you can assess the security level of your system. Request it by clicking the button.

For more information, you can contact us by filling out the following form.