In today’s era, the use of email address is one of the most user friendly and beneficial way of owning a personal information. It gives access to your personal accounts, financial details, or your social media profiles. One of the drawbacks is that the self-made hackers can use and exploit your email using your personal information for several reasons. By gaining the access to your personal information, the user can be impersonated by using the sensitive information hence, it can be used to tarnish your reputation
Let’s explore how hackers take control of your email and the steps you can take to stop this from happening.
How Hackers Take Control of Your Email Address
- Phishing Attacks
Most commonly used way of getting an access to your emails by the hackers is through phishing. This trick works when the hackers pretend to be a legitimate entity and asks for your personal credentials such as your bank, social media platforms or your email provider. These fake emails often contain a link that redirects you to a counterfeit website, where you unknowingly input your details, giving the hacker full access. - Brute Force Attacks
Weak passwords sets for the emails are often hacked by the hackers using Brute force attack. An automated software is used that keeps on trying different sets and combinations of passwords until the correct one is found. If the user has used common phrases or sequence of words in their password, it makes it relatively easier for hacker to dig into the emails using brute force attacks. - Data Breaches
Breach of data given on the large scale helps exposing email addresses and passwords to the hackers at the major companies. If by any chance, the user uses same combination of passwords for different sites, it even helps the hacker to jump onto the other sites accessing through the first one, much quicker. - Malware
Another way of getting your emails hacked is using Malware like keyloggers and spyware that can infect your devices without getting into your knowledge. The keystrokes are captured as you may type your password in hence the emails of the user gets hacked in result. This malicious software is often spread through suspicious downloads or even legitimate-looking files attached to emails.
Consequences of Email Hacking
Once a hacker has control over your email address, they can:
- Scam Your Contacts: How your contacts are scammed by the hackers? The hacker may impersonate to be you and may ask for the money from the user’s contacts via emails using sensitive information. If your contacts believe it to be you. They are easy to fall a prey to the hackers.
- Access Other Accounts: Social application services allow account recovery using the credentials of the email, If the hacker has gained control over user’s email, it is no longer difficult for a hacker to break into other accounts such as bank account, social media applications and shopping sites.
- Steal Sensitive Information: Getting your sensitive information stolen is the most challenging consequences of getting email hacked by the hackers as personal identification, bank account statements and work documents that needs to be kept confidential are exposed.
- Damage Your Reputation: Damage to the user’s personal and professional reputation is another out turn. It may happen if the hacker put in the mail inappropriate and deceiving messages, your contacts may lose trust in you.
Steps to Prevent Email Hacking?
- Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Setting a unique and strong set of passwords is of primary importance to preserve hacking. A strong password can be built by using combination of uppercase and lowercase, special characters, numbers. It is advised not to use personal information while setting your password to retain from brute force attack. Also do not keep the same password for all accounts, in case, one is compromised others may be rescued. - Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Adding a two- factor authentication gives the privilege and shields your account by acquiring your identity verification through secondary method such as text message or code. It acts as an extra layer of protection. It works well in a way, if a hacker gets hand on your password, he won’t be able to go through your emails unless the two-factor authentication is activated. - Be Cautious of Phishing Emails
Be cautious of the emails that contain suspicious links and ask for the personal credentials. Do not open the links if sent by the unknown sender neither download attachment files obtained from the unknown sources. In any doubt, directly contact the company. - Keep Software Updated
Outdated versions of software are easy to exploit by the hackers. Keep updating your operating systems to protect against these vulnerabilities. - Monitor for Suspicious Activity
Keep a check of your activity log in the settings to see if unknown sources are accessing to your emails in different devices and location. This feature is proposed by different email providers such as outlook and Gmail. Change your password if any unusual activity takes place. - Use a Reliable Antivirus Program
Keep an anti-virus program in your operating system to help your device for malware that can help the hacker gain login information. Make sure the anti virus scans your computer.
Conclusion
Email hacking contains significant importance in the digital era today as it is a threat to the user’s personal information and can cause damage to your personal and professional reputation. However, the risk of getting emails hacked can be reduced if best practices in cybersecurity are observed. By using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being cautious of phishing attempts, you can safeguard your email and protect yourself and your contacts from hackers looking to exploit your online identity. Stay proactive in monitoring your account activity and always keep your devices secure to avoid falling victim to these schemes. At Focuspc, we have professionals to help you with your email issues. Feel free to contact us or send us an email and we will get back to you ASAP.