We use email for everything; personal messages, sending files, business deals, and more. But how secure is email communication?
We all love the convenience of email, but as Apu Kapadia points out in “A Case (Study) For Usability in Secure Email Communication,” its security is often an illusion for everyday users.
On top of that, as hackers get more and more clever, using tricks like email spoofing, phishing, and impersonation, businesses and individuals need to take the initiative to protect their messages.
So, let’s take a closer look at how to keep our business email communication secure.
Common Vulnerabilities in Email Communication
Emails are vulnerable because of their open architecture and the fact that they rely on humans. As Kapadia paper points out, it’s surprisingly easy to forge email messages, which leads to phishing attacks that trick users into divulging sensitive information.
One of the biggest worries is Business Email Compromise (BEC), where attackers trick employees into transferring funds or sharing sensitive data by impersonating legitimate contacts.
The Proofpoint paper, “Definitive Email Security Strategy Guide,” says that email fraud accounts for 95% of enterprise attacks globally. These attacks range from simple phishing emails to more complex schemes like domain spoofing and advanced malware.
Furthermore, cybercriminals also use email spoofing, which is where they change the “From” field of an email to make it look like it’s from someone you trust. This is a real problem in industries which rely on email for high-stakes transactions.
Take Australia, for example. A lot of businesses here are small to medium enterprises (SMEs), and many of them don’t have the right defences in place to protect against email spoofing.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) “Email Attacks Prevention Guide,” also highlights the risk of domain name expiration, which can allow cybercriminals to impersonate businesses and exploit customer trust.
Email is a prime target for cybercrime because it lacks robust authentication mechanisms and is easily exploited by attackers who know how to play on human psychology. So, how secure is email communication?
The Concept of End-to-End Encryption
End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is becoming better known as a key way to keep email communication secure.
The main thing E2EE does is make sure only the sender and the person they’re sending it to can read the email, so third parties can’t get hold of sensitive info. As Kapadia points out, traditional email protocols like S/MIME and PGP use public and private key pairs to encrypt messages.
However, there are still some usability issues preventing it from being used more widely.
S/MIME is a good example of a more user-friendly option for those who are already familiar with it from using email clients like Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail.
However, public key infrastructure (PKI) concepts like certificate verification are often misunderstood by the average user.
The case study showed that even people who are technically proficient might have trouble with public key verification and certificate management. Even though there are some challenges, it’s essential to have the protection that E2EE provides.
In Australia, where people are becoming more concerned about digital privacy and the government is keeping a closer eye on what we do online, E2EE can help to keep our private communications safe from prying eyes.
But as the Proofpoint paper shows, we need to think about email security in a multi-layered way. After all, no single solution can stop all attacks. E2EE is a great solution, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle.
Current State of Email Security
The current state of email security is a pretty complex landscape of evolving threats and defensive measures.
Even though there’s been a lot more money spent on cybersecurity – Gartner reckons it’ll be over AUD 215 billion (USD 215 billion) in 2024 – the security of email systems is still a worry.
Email is still the most exploited vector for data breaches, with phishing attacks and BEC leading the way. And it’s not just overseas – Australian businesses have also lost millions of dollars to BEC.
While lots of organisations are adopting multi-factor authentication (MFA) and other advanced security measures, many still struggle with detecting threats on time.
A Proofpoint paper cites Osterman Research, which found most organisations, around 75%, take hours or even days to detect an email-related breach. This slow response can make cyberattacks worse, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and education, where email is used a lot for work communications.
Also, the move to working from home has made it easier for hackers to target emails, as employees are using their own devices and unsecured networks.
The lack of strong email authentication protocols is leaving many companies exposed. Initiatives like Australia’s Essential Eight, which includes email protection guidelines, are a good start.
However, we need more companies to adopt them to be effective in combating sophisticated threats.
For further information, kindly read “How Does Email Security Works: Step-by-Step Guide for Aussie Business.”
Common Email Security Threats
The world of cybercrime is always changing. Cybercriminals are coming up with new ways to exploit weaknesses in email communication.
Phishing attacks, BEC scams and advanced malware are some of the most common email secuiry threats.
For instance, the Proofpoint paper says that ransomware attacks have shot up, with malicious document attachment messages going up by 600% in 2016.
The ACSC guide highlights the risks of business email compromise, which resulted in self-reported losses of $81.45 million in the 2020-21 financial year.
We’re also seeing an increase in ransomware attacks delivered via email, with malware variants evolving rapidly.
Proofpoint’s research showed that the number of ransomware variants increased 30 times in just one year.
Also, we’re seeing a rise in outbound phishing, where attackers spoof a company’s email domain to trick external recipients.
This kind of attack can ruin a company’s reputation, as customers and partners lose trust in the brand.
Email Security Protocols and Technologies
The ACSC points out that multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a great way to add another layer of security on top of just a password.
Another crucial security protocol is Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC).
The DMARC, along with Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), makes sure that email messages are genuine and come from trusted domains.
Meanwhile, the Proofpoint guide shows how advanced sandboxing can be used to analyse attachments and URLs in real time, and data loss prevention (DLP) to keep sensitive information safe from leaving your network.
It also says that DMARC is important for making sure your emails are real and stopping people from phishing you.
Apu Kapadia also talks about the benefits of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and the challenges of key management. Kapadia also thinks that a hybrid approach, combining user verification with trusted certificate authorities, could be a better solution for everyday users.
For your guidance, please refer to “What is Email Security Policy: Definition, Components, and Best Practices.”
How Secure is Email Communication – The Best Practices
The security of email communication is a multifaceted issue. That’s why a mix of technical solutions and user awareness can make a big difference in how secure it is.
Simply put, how secure your email communication is depends on how good your best practices are.
And one of the most important things you can do to keep your emails secure and safe is to use encryption.
Protocols like S/MIME provide end-to-end encryption, so only the intended recipient can decrypt and read the email.
However, these technologies can be tricky to use, especially for non-technical users.
For instance, public key management, which is a key part of encryption, is often misunderstood, which can lead to mistakes in how it’s used.
To make your email security even stronger, it’s a good idea to set up solutions to detect phishing and spam.
Spam filters can stop a lot of phishing emails that try to trick users into sharing personal information or clicking on malicious links.
Using the most secure email providers can also be a solution for sending messages via email without worrying about various forms of cyber threats. Protonmail, Tutanota, Fastmail, Hushmail, and Mailfence are some alternative email providers that you can try.
Using email security and protection services
Another way to secure your email is using Interscale Email Security & Protection Services. Interscale use Proofpoint Essentials, which is an enterprise-level solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) where advanced protection is needed.
We’ve got all the bases covered with features like dynamic URL and attachment analysis, policy-enforced encryption, and social media account protection.
Our cloud-based platform also makes it easier to manage your emails by filtering out threats before they reach your network.
That way, we free up your admin time and make sure your business keeps running. Even if the network is down for a while.
Or, you can take a look at our Interscale IT Email Security & Protection Service page when you’re ready. We’ve got some real-life examples from businesses just like yours. They were up against the same email issues as you and came out on top because we were there for them.
And when you’re ready for coffee and croissants, let’s meet up. No hard sell, no pushy pitch.
How to Send a Secure Email?
The most fundamental thing to send a secure email is using encryption. It’s also a good idea to make sure you’re using the right public key for the recipient, as attackers can exploit key exchange vulnerabilities.
As well as encryption, it’s critical to verify the sender and recipient of the email to prevent spoofing attacks. If you use DMARC, SPF and DKIM, you can be sure that the email is from a legitimate source.
These protocols check and confirm the domain linked to the email. Which stops hackers from creating fake addresses and reduces the risk of phishing.
Interscale’s services, which include policy-enforced encryption and data loss prevention, give you extra protection.
Our platform automatically applies encryption policies. So you can rest assured that your sensitive information is always protected when sent externally.
To make your emails even safer, you might want to think about using multi-factor authentication (MFA) to access your email account. This gives you an extra layer of protection, so even if someone gets hold of your password, they won’t be able to access your account without the second form of verification.
In Closing
To keep email safe and secure, you need to use a few different tools: Encryption, authentication, and keeping an eye on any threats that might be out there.
If you follow the best practices and use Interscale services, you can make your defences a lot stronger. So, how secure is email communication? It’s not just about the technology you use, but also about user awareness and keeping an eye out.
