Why do you need to take greater care of your email than you think
Today we want to show a problem that is very present in the daily lives of Internet users. It is about email and the consequences that misuse of this service can have on security. We are going to show how they could attack us and put our computers at risk simply by receiving an email. We will also give advice on what we should do to avoid being victims of this problem.
Email, a very present service on the web
Currently, there are many options we
have to communicate on the Internet. We
can make use of instant messaging applications, social networks, video calls
... And yes, email is also widely used by both private users and companies.
It is a service that is really very present in our day today. We have
the possibility of using it on any device simply by having an Internet
connection. In addition, it not only serves to send messages, but we can
use it to store information, share files, create and manage contacts, etc.
In short, the use of email means that we must take into
account the importance of not making mistakes that may affect our security and
privacy.
How they can attack us by email
As we say, through a simple email, they could attack us in
multiple ways. We are going to mention what are the most common problems
that we could face and that we must avoid at all costs
Malware shipping
One of those problems is undoubtedly
malware. We can receive a malicious
file through email, and that, when opened, seriously
compromises the security and proper functioning of our equipment.
There are many styles of malware that we are able to receive through this medium. We speak, for example, of ransomware, keyloggers, spyware ... Many types of threats affect our computers regardless of the operating system we are using.
Phishing attacks
Phishing attacks are also very
present. As we know, they are the method hackers use to steal passwords
and credentials. They basically throw a bait, they pose as some legitimate
organization or company, but it is actually a cyber attack.
The victim enters their data, and they end up on a server
controlled by the attackers. This is how they collect the passwords and
credentials that they can later use.
Spam
Without a doubt, Spam, junk mail is another very frequent
problem. On the one hand, it is annoying to receive misleading, intrusive,
and constant advertising. But it should also be mentioned that malicious
software can sneak in and carry out attacks through this type of email.
Information search
The other hand, another of the
objectives of hackers via email is the search for information. Obtaining data from
the victim is very valuable. It is a reality that our personal information
has great value on the network and that it can be used to send targeted
advertising, Spam, or even sell it to third parties.
How to avoid being victimized by email
Luckily we have at our disposal different possibilities to
reduce the risk and avoid being victims of attacks and problems through
email. We are going to talk about the main thing that cannot be missed.
Have security tools
One of those things that can not be
missing is security tools. Having a good antivirus can prevent the entry of malicious
software on our computers that affect our security.
There are many options that we can find when we talk about
security programs. They are available for all types of operating systems
and devices. There are free and paid ones.
Upgraded equipment
It is also essential to have the
equipment correctly updated. Sometimes
there are vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers. Receiving an
email configured to exploit an uncorrected security flaw can be a problem.
For this reason, we need to always hold the device with all the
patches and the latest versions. You also have to update the browser and
any application to open the email.
Use multiple accounts
An interesting tip to especially
prevent Spam is to use multiple
accounts. We can use a more personal one and have another in parallel to
register on pages or platforms that may not be completely reliable and that
later send us Spam.
There are many providers that we can use in this regard, and it
is convenient to have several accounts to protect ourselves from these
circumstances.
Common sense
Last but perhaps most important, common sense. It is vital not to make
mistakes, not to open files that are doubtful, not to respond to an email that
we cannot trust, not to log in from a link we receive ... In short, always
keeping common sense in mind can avoid problems that may lead to risk our
security and privacy.