Securing Your Inbox: 8 Email Security Best Practices You Can't Ignore

Email security remains one of the biggest cybersecurity threats for businesses of all sizes. Attackers/hackers continue to find new ways to exploit email, and people need to follow enterprise email security best practices to compromise an organization's defenses.

Email is often used as a route into corporate networks to spread virus/malware such as ransomware, viruses, and spam, as well as other invasion vectors such as phishing and scams. However, by following email security best practices, organizations can reduce their attack surface and detect signs of an attack before it happens.

Moreover, Our email verifier makes your data emailable. best practices in email security for employees can help stop email-borne threats, protect against the latest attack vectors, and relieve pressure on an organization's already stretched IT teams.

Why does modern email infrastructure need multiple layers of security?

Multiple layers of email security defense are critical to protecting users and their devices. Nearly every organization worldwide relies on email as the primary source of communication with customers, partners, suppliers, and colleagues. Failure to deploy email security best practices around this important communication method leaves organizations vulnerable to cyberattacks.

As cybercriminals devise more sophisticated techniques and advanced attack methods, the need for email security is more important than ever. Organizations now have more network connections, and users can access resources and systems from new devices and locations. They also have more web-based applications, funds stored in more online sites, social network accounts, and new machines like Internet of Things (IoT) devices that need to be protected.

Train your employees on cybersecurity awareness.

Employees are an organization's first line of defense against email cyberattacks. Cybersecurity awareness training helps employees understand the threats they face, reducing the organization's cyber risk and increasing the chances of securing data. Ensure employees understand how to spot signs of potential attacks and the consequences of not following email security best practices.

Companies need to train employees on what potentially malicious emails look like and guide them on the significance of not trusting emails from anonymous or unrecognizable senders. They must also conduct workshops on phishing email simulations and email attachment security best practices.

Use two-factor authentication (2FA)

More than relying on passwords alone is required in the modern cyber threat environment. Instead, users must harden their email accounts using 2FA or multi-factor authentication (MFA), adding an extra security layer.

With 2FA or MFA, users who log into their email accounts receive a notification asking them to complete another step in the verification process to show who they are. This can be achieved through various methods, such as entering a unique code sent to the smartphone, a one-time password (OTP) sent via SMS, an authentication app displaying a unique code, or biometric verification such as a fingerprint.

This process ensures that hackers cannot access a user's account even if they able to steal their password.

Enable privacy settings, add default security settings, and set reminders.

Many social networks are open by default, privacy is basic or off, and security is optional. Review your available privacy and security options and enable them. Feel free to make your account less visible. If multi-factor authentication is available, use it! Use an authenticator app like Google, Microsoft, Symantec, or Authy to SMS. Enable alerts and notifications on your account to quickly notify you of suspicious activity. Get notified when someone tries to tag you.

Use the $tr0ng3r password and change it at least once a year.

When choosing a password, ensure it is long, strong, and unique to the account. Generate a strong password here and change it at least once a year. Today, the average social media password is several years old, and social media platforms need to do an excellent job of reminding you how old your password is, indicating how weak it is, or telling you when it's time to change your password. Protecting your account is entirely up to you, so act wisely. If you have various accounts and passwords, use a strong password and privileged account vault to make managing and protecting them easier. Use the same password once.

Never use social login, although it may be tempting.

Log into your original account using the unique login you have created for that account rather than using a social login. Sure, "Sign in with Facebook" is quick and easy, but when Facebook gets hacked, cybercriminals could use that social login method to infiltrate all your accounts.

Maintain and use multiple digital identities.

Create multiple accounts to eliminate risk to your information. Setup multiple email accounts for different purposes: use one email address for low-risk communications; one for signing up for online newsletters, WIFI airport, and other services that require an email address; one for online shopping, and one for Kind used for password reset (with higher security settings). This reduces the chance of your information being compromised and the risk of putting all your eggs in one basket.

Limit access to public Wi-Fi 

 It's best to use public Wi-Fi with a VPN. When security is important, prioritize cellular networks (3G/4G/LTE). When using public Wi-Fi, ask your provider for the correct Wi-Fi hotspot name and make sure it is secure. Cybercriminals often spread their Wi-Fi SIDs under similar names. Disable automatic Wi-Fi connection or enable Ask to join a network. Cybercriminals use Wi-Fi hotspots with common names like "airport" or "coffee" to automatically connect to your devices without your knowledge. Never choose Wi-Fi that remembers public hotspots.

Use the latest web browsers as they improve security from fake websites. This prevents anyone from hosting their own Facebook site, such as waiting for you to enter your credentials.

Don't click on suspicious links like videos, even through social chat.

Watch out for ads. They can direct you to vulnerable websites.

Use a less privileged or standard user when browsing, as this will significantly reduce the chance of installing malware.

Always assume someone is monitoring your data over a public Wi-Fi network.

Don't access sensitive data, such as financial information, over public Wi-Fi.

Don't change your password; be careful when entering your credentials using public Wi-Fi.

 If your mobile device has personal hotspot capabilities, choose it over public Wi-Fi if possible, but be careful.

Before clicking on anything, stop to think and check that it is predictable, correct, and reliable.

We are a click community. We love clicking on hyperlinks. But be wary of any message you receive that contains a hyperlink, even if it appears to be a legitimate message from a friend or trusted organization.

Stop and ask yourself if this news is what you expected. Do you know the sender? Is it really her? Or maybe they were hacked? Is this a phishing email that looks like an email you might receive from a reputable organization but is set up to obtain your information?

If you need clarification on whether the message is authentic, contact the sender via phone or a new message and ask if they sent you the link. It could be malware, ransomware, remote access tools, or anything that can steal or access your data. Nearly 30% of people click on malicious links. We all need to be more vigilant and careful. Before you click, stop and think.

Stay safe online with email safety best practices and avoid becoming the next victim of email security.