Email Security &

Protection
COMBATTING PHISHING AND CYBERATTACKS
ESSENTIAL TIPS TO SAFEGUARD YOUR EMAIL ON PUBLIC NETWORKS

LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOUR EMAIL AND DATA—

DOWNLOAD OUR FULL GUIDE!
 Table of
CONTENTS
01 INTRODUCTION

02 IMPORTANCE OF EMAIL
MONITORING

03 RECOGNIZING PHISHING
EMAILS

04 RISKS OF PUBLIC INTERNET

USE

05 BEST PRACTICES FOR EMAIL

PROTECTION

06 ESSENTIAL SECURITY TOOLS

AND SOLUTIONS

07 EMAIL SECURITY AWARENESS

TRAINING

08 INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN

09 CONCLUSION AND NEXT

STEPS
Email Threats Are
on the Rise –
Here’s How You
Can Stay Safe!
In today's interconnected world, email has become a vital communication
tool, but it is also a prime target for cybercriminals.

Email-based cyber threats, particularly phishing attacks, are on the rise,

exploiting users by tricking them into revealing sensitive information,
downloading malware, or granting unauthorized access to personal and
corporate accounts. These threats can lead to data breaches, financial loss,
and compromised security.

The risk is even greater when using public internet connections, as hackers
can intercept data transmitted over unsecured networks. Safeguarding
against phishing emails and using secure methods, such as encrypted
connections, two-factor authentication (2FA), and VPNs, is crucial to
protecting your email communication and ensuring the safety of your
personal or business data.

By staying vigilant and implementing robust security measures, individuals

and organizations can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to
cyberattacks.

SECURE YOUR EMAILS WITH THESE EXPERT TIPS.

STAY AHEAD OF CYBERCRIMINALS!
 MONITOR, DETECT, AND
PROTECT: WHY EMAIL
MONITORING MATTERS

Continuous Monitoring & Analysis: Tracks How Email Monitoring Improves Security & Compliance
email traffic for suspicious activities, 1. Enhancing Security:
unauthorized access, phishing, malware, and Mitigates Human Error: Automatically blocks
harmful emails, reducing user mistakes.
spam.
Detects Advanced Threats: Uses updated threat
Key Benefits:
intelligence to neutralize sophisticated attacks.
Early Detection of Phishing: Identifies
Prevents Ransomware/Malware: Scans
fraudulent emails, reducing the risk of attachments and links for malware, preventing
users falling for scams. infections.
Real-Time Threat Alerts: Immediate 2. Improving Compliance:
notifications when cyber threats are Regulatory Compliance: Ensures secure handling
detected. of sensitive data (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
Spam & Malware Filtering: Blocks Audit & Reporting: Provides detailed reports for
harmful emails using machine learning regulatory audits and policy enforcement.
Corporate Policy Enforcement: Monitors
algorithms.
employee emails to ensure adherence to
Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Monitors
company policies.
and flags emails containing sensitive
Prevents Insider Threats: Detects and flags
data to prevent unauthorized sharing. suspicious internal activities, protecting data from
leaks.
 SPOT THE SIGNS OF PHISHING
BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!
PHISHING EMAILS ARE DESIGNED TO TRICK RECIPIENTS INTO REVEALING SENSITIVE
INFORMATION OR INSTALLING MALICIOUS SOFTWARE. BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE
KEY SIGNS CAN HELP PROTECT AGAINST THESE ATTACKS.

1. SUSPICIOUS SENDER INFORMATION 2. MISMATCHED URLS

Phishing emails often come from unfamiliar Hovering over links in phishing emails
or deceptive email addresses. The sender's often reveals URLs that don’t match the
name may seem legitimate, but a closer look supposed destination. The link may
reveals an unusual or misspelled domain appear legitimate but leads to a malicious
name. site.
Example: An email claiming to be from Example: A link saying
"PayPal" but sent from "security@paypal- "www.amazon.com" that actually directs
services.com" instead of the official to a different website when you hover
"paypal.com" domain. over it.
3. URGENT OR THREATENING LANGUAGE 4. UNSOLICITED ATTACHMENTS OR LINKS
Phishing emails often try to create a sense Legitimate companies usually do not send
of urgency or fear to prompt immediate unexpected attachments or request sensitive
action. They may claim that your account information via email. Phishing emails often
will be locked or there’s been suspicious include links that lead to fake websites or
activity. attachments that install malware.
Example: "Your account will be suspended Example: An email claims you’ve won a prize
in 24 hours unless you update your and includes a link to "claim your reward,"
payment information." which leads to a malicious website designed to
steal your personal data.

PREVENT A BREACH
—START
IDENTIFYING
PHISHING EMAILS
CLONE BUSINESS EMAIL
TODAY!"
PHISHING COMPROMISE
(BEC)

SPEAR
PHISHING

COMMON
SPOOFING
PHISHING
TACTICS
 PUBLIC WI-FI: CONVENIENCE OR
CYBER THREAT?

MAN-IN-THE-MIDDLE
(MITM) ATTACKS
FAKE An attacker on public Wi-Fi EAVESDROPPING
HOTSPOTS intercepts a user's login details for
An attacker uses special
A user connects to a "Free their banking app, leading to
software to capture data from
Airport Wi-Fi" hotspot set up by a unauthorized access to the
users connected to the same
hacker. Once connected, the victim’s bank account.
public Wi-Fi, gathering
attacker gains access to the sensitive information like social
user's sensitive information, media or email logins.
including emails and passwords

SPECIFIC RISKS OF
USING THE PUBLIC
INTERNET
MALWARE SESSION
DISTRIBUTION HIJACKING
A laptop connected to public Wi-Fi A hacker steals session
unknowingly downloads malware cookies from a user browsing
from an attacker sharing the same an online shopping site. With
network, resulting in files being this, the hacker can take
encrypted by ransomware and control of the user’s account
held hostage for payment. and make unauthorized
purchases.

REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES OF CYBERATTACKS THROUGH PUBLIC NETWORKS

STARBUCKS WI-FI SUPERFISH OPERATION

HACK (2017) INCIDENT (2015) DARKHOTEL (2014)

In a Starbucks cafe, a public Wi-Fi Laptops sold with the Superfish A sophisticated cyber-espionage
network was compromised, and adware allowed attackers on campaign that targeted business
attackers redirected users to public Wi-Fi to intercept executives in luxury hotels.
malicious websites designed to install encrypted communications, Attackers infiltrated the hotel’s
cryptocurrency mining malware on exposing users to potential man- public Wi-Fi networks, deploying
their devices. Customers' devices in-the-middle attacks. This malware to gather sensitive
were used without their knowledge compromised user privacy and corporate data from high-profile
to mine digital currency for the left them vulnerable to guests.
attacker. cyberattacks.
BEST PRACTICES TO STAY SAFE ON PUBLIC NETWORKS

Use a Virtual Private

Network (VPN): Encrypts
your internet traffic,
making it difficult for
attackers to intercept your
data.

Avoid Sensitive
Transactions: Do not
access banking or
financial websites while
on public Wi-Fi.

Use HTTPS Websites:

Ensure that websites you
visit use HTTPS, providing
an extra layer of security.

Turn Off File Sharing:

Disable automatic file
sharing on your device
when connected to public
networks.

IMPLEMENT THESE TIPS NOW TO SECURE YOUR

EMAIL WHILE ON THE GO!
 THE BEST TOOLS TO KEEP YOUR
EMAIL SAFE

Email
Security Description Key Benefits Examples of Solutions
Tool

Converts email content - Protects sensitive data - PGP (Pretty Good Privacy)
from unauthorized access.
into unreadable code, - S/MIME
Encryption - Ensures compliance with
ensuring only authorized data protection regulations
(Secure/Multipurpose
recipients can access it. (e.g., GDPR). Internet Mail Extensions)

Identifies and blocks

- Prevents phishing attacks.
Anti- phishing attempts by - Protects users from
- Barracuda Email Security
Phishing analyzing incoming malicious links,
- PhishLabs
emails for suspicious attachments, and fraudulent
Software requests.
links or content.

Securely stores and

- Encourages the use of
manages login strong, unique passwords.
Password - LastPass
credentials, reducing the - Protects against
Managers password-related breaches
- Dashlane
risk of weak or reused
and credential theft.
passwords.

- Reduces the risk of

Automatically filters out malware and phishing
Spam unsolicited and malicious emails. - Google Gmail Spam Filter
Filters emails, keeping the inbox - Improves productivity by - Microsoft Outlook
clean and secure. minimizing spam
distractions.

Validates the sender's - DMARC (Domain-based

Email - Prevents domain spoofing.
Message Authentication,
identity to prevent email - Improves email
Authenticati spoofing and deliverability by verifying
Reporting & Conformance)
- SPF (Sender Policy
on Tools impersonation attacks. legitimate senders.
Framework)

Monitors and restricts the - Ensures compliance with

Data Loss data protection laws.
sharing of sensitive - Symantec DLP
Prevention information via email to
- Prevents accidental or
- Forcepoint DLP
malicious sharing of
(DLP) avoid data breaches. confidential data.

Contact us for more information on the best tools for your

organization!
POWER YO
UR TEAM
WITH SEC
URITY TRA
INING
EMPOWER
YOUR TEA

Empower
M WITH S
ECURITY T
RAINI

YOUR TEAM WITH

SECURITY TRAINING
WITH SECURITY TR
POWER YOUR TEAM
EM
ECURITY TRAINING
YOUR TEAM WITH S
ER Why Training Employees is Important?
Human Element in Cybersecurity
Employees are often the first line of defense against cyber
How Effective Training Reduces threats. Cybercriminals exploit human vulnerabilities through
Phishing Incidents social engineering tactics, making it essential for employees to
Recognizing Phishing Attempts: Employees trained to recognize and respond appropriately to suspicious activities.
verify email sources before clicking on links or downloading Awareness of Cyber Threats
attachments can reduce the likelihood of interacting with Regular training sessions keep employees informed about the
fraudulent messages. latest threats and tactics used by cybercriminals. Knowledge of
Promoting Safe Practices: Training emphasizes safe these threats enables employees to identify red flags, such as
online behaviors, such as not sharing passwords, using phishing emails, malicious attachments, or suspicious links.
strong and unique passwords, and being cautious with public Building a Security Culture
Wi-Fi networks. These practices collectively enhance the A comprehensive training program fosters a culture of security
organization’s overall security posture. within the organization. When employees are aware of security
Encouraging Reporting of Suspicious Activities: If an policies and practices, they are more likely to take
employee receives a suspicious email, they can report it to cybersecurity seriously and adhere to protocols, leading to a
the IT department, which can investigate and mitigate any safer work environment.
risks before they escalate. Legal and Compliance Requirements
Regular Refresher Courses: Continuous training and Many industries are subject to regulations that require
awareness programs keep cybersecurity at the forefront of organizations to implement security awareness training for their
employees' minds. Regular refresher courses help reinforce employees. Compliance with these regulations helps avoid
knowledge and adapt to emerging threats, significantly potential legal consequences and financial penalties.
lowering the risk of phishing incidents.

EMPOWER YOU
R TEAM WITH S
ECURITY TRAININ
G
EMPOWER YOU
R TEAM WITH S
ENSURE YOUR TEAM KNOWS EC
HOW TO PREVENT PHISHING—
SIGN UP FOR TRAINING!
 RESPONDING QUICKLY TO
CYBER THREATS

1. Identify & Confirm the Threat 5. Mitigate and Resolve the Threat
Analyze the Incident Remove Malicious Content
Engage Security Tools Change Passwords

2. Isolate Affected Systems 6. Communicate Internally

Disconnect from the Inform Employees
Network Offer Guidance
Restrict Access
3. Notify IT & Security Teams 7. Document the Incident
Immediate Reporting Create an Incident Report
Create a Response Team Record Lessons Learned

4. Assess the Impact 8. Review & Update Security

Protocols
Determine the Scope of
the Breach Evaluate Security Measures
Check for Data Loss Implement Improvements
 STAY PROTECTED—ACT NOW
TO SAFEGUARD YOUR EMAILS

ADOPT EMAIL CONDUCT REGULAR STAY

SECURITY TOOLS TRAINING INFORMED

Implement Invest in Sign up for additional

encryption, anti- cybersecurity resources, newsletters,
phishing software, training programs or webinars focused on
and password for your employees email security and best
managers to fortify to raise awareness practices to stay
your email security. and build a culture updated on the latest
of vigilance. threats and solutions.

By prioritizing email security today, you can help ensure a safer and
more secure environment for your organization. Don't wait—take the
necessary steps to protect your sensitive data and maintain your
organization's integrity.

Contact us today for a comprehensive

email protection strategy!
 Contact
Address: Pure Leamington, Suite-36,
Plato Close, Tachbrook Park,
Leamington Spa,CV34 6WE

Email: info@smiitcyberai.com

Web: www.smiitcyberai.com

Protect your business from

cyberattacks—Get in touch
with our email security
experts!