Since email is one of the largest business productivity tools, it’s unsurprising that it’s also a prime target for cybercriminals. Phishing emails alone, the most common form of online scams, saw a huge increase of 173% in Q3 2023 compared to the previous quarter!
GMail blocks a whopping 100 million phishing emails every day, and that’s just one email platform! Emails feel personal, addressed directly to us and landing in our digital (and sometimes even physical) inboxes, and while most of us struggle with email overload from time to time, we still trust it as a secure way to communicate. This sense of security is likely why phishing emails are so effective.
We are all guilty of often responding to emails in a hurry – a quick reply before lunch or dashing off to a meeting. These rushed moments are when we’re most vulnerable at falling victim to scams such as phishing. Recent studies show that a massive 88% to 95% of data breaches stem from human error.
GMail blocks a whopping 100 million phishing emails every day, and that’s just one email platform! Emails feel personal, addressed directly to us and landing in our digital (and sometimes even physical) inboxes, and while most of us struggle with email overload from time to time, we still trust it as a secure way to communicate. This sense of security is likely why phishing emails are so effective.
We are all guilty of often responding to emails in a hurry – a quick reply before lunch or dashing off to a meeting. These rushed moments are when we’re most vulnerable at falling victim to scams such as phishing. Recent studies show that a massive 88% to 95% of data breaches stem from human error.
Due to its inherent lack of authentication and reliability, email should be treated with caution. Many email security best practices for staff, from way back when email first landed on the radar, are still pertinent today: robust passwords should be employed, spam filters should be implemented, unsolicited offers that appear too good to be true should be viewed with suspicion, and even correspondence from seemingly trustworthy sources should be verified.
However, as email is increasingly central to business operations, it’s key for everyone to adhere to a more stringent set of email security best practices. These can be summarised as follows:
UK businesses of all sizes are waking up to the importance of prioritising email security, with solutions that safeguard employee communication and reduce cyber-attacks. Being email savvy is vital to protecting a company’s brand, reputation, and bottom line. Email threats can lead to devastating costs, operational disruption, and other severe consequences. With our recommendations above, you can help mitigate the risk.
“If you are unsure – don’t click it, don’t open it”
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