The Six Most Dangerous Threats That Email Marketers Face

It is important to be aware of the most common email threats that affect individuals from all roles and industries. This article outlines six common email threats as well as preventive advice or solutions for each one to mitigate these risks.

It is estimated that over 4.5 billion people worldwide use email, and approximately 80% of companies rely on it as a primary tool for customer acquisition and retention.

Unfortunately, this makes email an attractive target for hackers and scammers who seek to exploit users by sending unsolicited emails, malicious links, and other tactics to gain access to networks and steal personal information, files, and other valuable resources.

What are The Six Most Dangerous Threats That Email Marketers Face?

1) Phishing

Since the beginning of the 21st century, phishing has been a prevalent threat to email users. It relies on social engineering and other tactics to persuade people into divulging personal information that could result in financial loss, data theft, or identity fraud.

A 2021 Tessian study found that, on average, employees receive approximately 14 phishing emails per year.

Additionally, Cisco’s 2021 Cybersecurity Trends Report indicated that at least one employee clicks a phishing link in nearly 86% of organizations.

Phishing attacks can be avoided by being aware of their common characteristics.

Attackers often utilize unfamiliar URLs or make unrealistic offers.

To help prevent such attacks, it is recommended to refrain from clicking on suspicious links or pop-ups, not share information on sites that are not HTTPS secure, and do not open attachments from unknown sources.

2) Spoofing

Spoofs are lookalike emails used by scammers and hackers to impersonate actual brands.

They entice readers to share personal information or make a purchase on bogus landing pages linked within the emails.

The prevalence of domain spoofing emails is staggering, with approximately 3.1 billion sent worldwide each day according to Proof Point.

Additionally, 25% of professionals and businesses receive B2B spoof emails on a weekly basis.

To prevent theft or damage caused by such emails, caution should be exercised in various ways such as opting for trustworthy brands for products and services, identifying bogus links by hovering the cursor over them to view the actual URL, and verifying the email address of senders.

3) Spam

Spam is an unwelcome and unsolicited form of communication that typically advertises items or services that are not legitimate.

These emails can contain malicious software such as Trojans or other viruses, and they serve no purpose for professionals other than to waste their time and reduce their productivity.

Statistics from Statista show that over 60% of email traffic volume is spam!

Furthermore, only a small fraction (less than 25%) of spam emails are genuine in nature.

Approximately 73% of emails are classified as phishing, with the remaining 2.5% being fraud.

It is not possible to completely eradicate spam from one’s inbox; however, there are steps that can be taken to protect oneself. These include reporting, blocking, and deleting suspicious emails, as well as utilizing third-party email filters such as SpamTitan, Xeams, Spambrella, and others

4) DDoS and botnet attacks

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are commonly used to send out large-scale spam and phishing operations.

According to Secure List, over 78,000 DDoS assaults were directed at US companies in the second quarter of 2022. Additionally, approximately 70% of organizations experience 20-50 DDoS attacks each month.

These attacks often occur when attackers gain access to IP addresses.

To prevent such occurrences, one possible solution is to use VPN software which allows users to browse and use emails anonymously.

5) Malware

Malware’s purpose is to disrupt operations and, as such, hackers employ various tactics such as links, pop-ups, and email attachments in order to deceive victims into downloading ransomware, adware, and spyware.

Approximately 46% of businesses and professionals are exposed to malware from emails, according to Phishing Box.

Additionally, Cleard In reports that 1 in every 100 opened emails contains malicious software.

It is essential for businesses to maintain effective anti-malware software on their devices at all times. This software can help detect and eliminate potential threats before they become a problem.

To ensure the best protection, caution and due diligence should be practiced.

When utilizing email, it is imperative to be vigilant of suspicious files, peculiar URLs, spelling mistakes, and implausible offers.

6) Business Email Compromise (BEC)

Since the onset of COVID-19, BEC attacks have increased tenfold due to the increase in remote working.

These attacks are comparable to phishing but with the sole purpose of defrauding businesses.

BEC attackers impersonate senior personnel and other positions, encouraging staff to create false financial documents and accounts.

According to Id Agent, in 2021, almost 77% of businesses experienced Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks. In the same year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that BEC assaults resulted in more than $2.4 billion in theft.

Confirming requests via another channel and double-checking email addresses for spelling mistakes are two methods of preventing Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks.

However, the most effective strategies for defending against such assaults are using paid business email accounts and implementing multi-factor authentication.

Conclusion

It is essential to be aware of the SIX most dangerous threats that email marketers face in order to take proactive steps to protect themselves. Email marketing continues to be a major component of the business world, thus it is imperative to gain knowledge regarding cybersecurity threats and how they can be prevented.