Skip to content
Finance: management, investments, and tips. — Protections — Docusign — Impersonation — Forbesfbi — Emails — Email,email threat,dangerous email,phishing,brand impersonation,dmarc,email security,email hack,email protection,email malware

Over 427 million harmful emails authenticated – Adhere to one rule for safety assurance

To combat persistent email threats, here's some helpful advice for effective protection.

,   and  Administrator
3 min read

Emails: A Hackers' Playground

Over 427 million harmful emails authenticated – Adhere to one rule for safety assurance

You sure as hell don't want to mess with your emails - and that's no exaggeration. A quick gander at recent cybersecurity news headlines makes it crystal clear: Microsoft 365 under attack, PayPal under fire, Gmail again under siege. Look closely and see the common thread - emails bypassing security checks. And with security experts confirming a whopping 427.8 million dangerous emails sent in 2024 alone, it's time to pay attention. Here's the lowdown on how to stay safe.

Brand Impersonation Emails: The Red Alert

I can't stress enough how vital it is to recognize the danger of brand impersonation when it comes to phishing attacks. Cybercrooks are expert tricksters, and one of their favorite tactics is to imitate well-known companies to build trust. Fake support calls, emails claiming account issues, you name it - they've got you covered. And sometimes it's more than just simple spoofing; they exploit élite technical loopholes to make their scams seem real as shit.

In a March 12 report from Hornetsecurity, it's confirmed that email remains a prime target for cybercriminals. "You guessed it," the report says, "industry verticals are under scrutiny." And while it's a good thing that brand impersonation threat emails dropped across the board, Hornetsecurity also highlighted a nasty stat: 427.8 million emails with malicious content were sent to their customers just in 2024. That's a bigass problem.

A Simple Solution: One Rule to Save Your Ass

I can't count the number of times I've sung the praises of Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) when it comes to combating brand impersonation in phishing emails. And guess who's got the same song stuck in their head? That's right, Hornetsecurity. After analyzing 10,743,561 active mail-sending domains, they discovered huge gaps in email authentication implementation.

"Only 35.4% of domains with DMARC protocols," Hornetsecurity says, "leaves two-thirds of domains unprotected." Worry not about those lax domain owners, because a mere 16.6% of them are even using DMARC aggregate reporting, also known as RUA, to monitor email authentication results. With RUA, organizations can detect surges in spoofed emails from unknown IPs and alert customers about specific phishing campaigns. Arm yourself, email admins - it's time to act.

Enrichment Data:

DMARC: Your Sword Against Email Attacks

DMARC, or Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance, is your sentinel against email spoofing and phishing attacks. DMARC bolsters SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) by allowing domain owners to define policies for handling emails that fail authentication checks, ensuring only authorized servers can send emails using a domain's name.

DMARC consists of five key components:

  1. Version (v=DMARC1): Specifies the DMARC version.
  2. Policy (p=none, quarantine, reject): Defines what happens to emails that fail authentication.
  3. none: Reports are generated, but no action is taken.
  4. quarantine: Emails are moved to the spam folder.
  5. reject: Emails are rejected and not delivered.
  6. Alignment Modes (adkim, aspf): Determines how the domain in the email's "From" header matches the domain in SPF and DKIM records.
  7. r: Relaxed alignment.
  8. s: Strict alignment.
  9. Reporting URIs (rua, ruf): Specifies where to send aggregate and forensic reports about authentication failures.

DMARC to the Rescue

  1. Alignment Checks: DMARC ensures that the domain in the "From" header matches the domain in SPF and DKIM records, preventing unauthorized use.
  2. Policy Enforcement: Failing authentication triggers the defined policy to prevent phishing emails from reaching your inbox.
  3. Reporting Features: DMARC reports help identify unauthorized senders, allowing domain owners to adjust policies and stay protected.
  4. With the rising threats of brand impersonation in phishing emails, it's crucial to implement Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) to ensure only authorized servers can send emails using a domain's name.
  5. The report from Hornetsecurity revealed that only 35.4% of domains have DMARC protocols, leaving two-thirds of domains unprotected. To address this issue, email admins can utilize the RUA (DMARC aggregate reporting) feature to monitor email authentication results and detect surges in spoofed emails.
  6. In light of the high number of dangerous emails containing malicious content, it's essential to recognize the danger of brand impersonation and implement email security measures, such as DMARC, to protect yourself from phishing attacks and email hacking.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest