Data breaches have become one of today’s biggest business threats and email is still the main driver of this threat.
What are The Common Threats in Email Marketing?
Today, many businesses are victims of email fraud during the year. Email threats are varied and not only are they progressing quickly but they also have very important consequences as they often trap under-prepared companies.
To fight back, companies must follow instructions from magento ecommerce agency or ecommerce Development Company to invest in a comprehensive email security strategy that spans the entire chain of email attacks – from proactive prevention to responding to real-time threats.
In order to know what can threaten your data, it would be useful to know what malware exists and how it works.
Here are some of the common threats in email marketing.
Malware
Malware is a generic term encompassing these various computer threats all aimed at harming a computer, a phone, a cash register, and so on.
Whatever form it takes, malware can corrupt, erase or steal data from devices and networks in a company.
It can steal confidential data, such as customer credit card numbers.
Computer Virus
Whenever a user opens the infected software, it allows the virus to spread.
It acts discreetly and replicates at a blazing speed thanks to the exchange of data, whether by a USB key or a computer network.
Most people have heard of computer viruses, but few know exactly what they are or what they do.
What is Computer Virus?
These are malicious computer programs that are often sent as an attachment via email or via a download.
Viruses try to infect your computer, as well as the computers of each person in your contact list.
Just visiting a site can automatically download a virus.
What are the consequences?
- Viruses send spam.
- Provide criminals with access to your computer and your contact list.
- They find and scan your personal information on your computer, such as passwords.
- They are hacking your Internet browser.
- Disable your security settings.
- Display unwanted ads.
Computer Worm
The virus should not be confused with a computer worm, which spreads over the Internet.
The latter can be installed on a computer from an email, by downloading a file or by instant messaging.
It is much more common than the computer virus nowadays.
Zombie Networks
If you have never heard of zombie networks, it’s probably because they often go unnoticed.
What is Zombie Network?
A set of web robots, or robots, that create an army of infected computers (called “zombies”) and which are remotely controlled by the initiator. Your computer may be part of it without you knowing it.
What are the consequences?
- Zombie networks send spam containing viruses.
- They spread all sorts of malicious programs.
- They use your computer as part of a denial of service attack against other systems.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that restricts access to your computer or files and displays a message that requires payment to remove the restriction.
The two main factors of infection appear to be phishing emails containing malicious attachments and advertising flash screens on websites.
Spyware or Trojan horse
The classic viruses have given way in the past decade to a particular type of malware, spyware or Trojan horses.
These silently infect the computer through a seemingly legitimate application.
Once in the computer, the software can do what it wants: save passwords or access the camera to record the least facts and gestures of the user.
Spam
As such, spam is not a computer threat, but if you open it or click on it, you can put a computer worm on your computer.
Theft of Portable or Mobile Devices
Small and easy to carry, phones and tablets are particularly likely to be stolen from a purse or forgotten on a subway bench, opening the door to other computer threats.
If it is not adequately protected, it is easy to remove the contents of a fallen device in the wrong hands or use it to access company networks.
These are usually locked only by a four-digit password, a protection that is too weak most of the time.
A perpetrator can also simply erase its content and sell the device on the black market, throwing all the work it contained into the trash, a loss that is sometimes considerable for a company.
These risks of loss and theft are accentuated by the so-called Bring your own device (BYOD) trend, where employees use their personal devices at work.
In addition, personal data mixes with business data, making employees resistant to increased security measures.
Phishing
Phishing fraud is one of the easiest computer threats to identify. This is an email that looks like it’s a well-known service, like a banking institution.
The fraudster attempts to obtain personal information by prompting the user to click on a link, for example to verify the identification of a credit card account.
Banks repeat it though: they never ask for personal information from their customers in this way.
The phishing technique is most often used by cybercriminals because it is easy to execute and can produce the desired results without having to put in too much effort.
What is it about?
Fake e-mails, text messages and websites designed to look exactly the same as real business or seem to be sent by real companies.
The criminals send them to steal your personal and financial information. This is also known as “hoax”.
What are the consequences?
The different phishing techniques are intended to encourage you to provide cybercriminals with your information.
They ask you to update, validate or confirm your account. The methods are often presented in official and intimidating ways to encourage you to take the necessary steps.
Phishing provides cybercriminals with your username and passwords so they can access your accounts (online bank account, business accounts, etc.) And steal your credit card numbers.
That’s it.
So these were the Common Threats in Email Marketing.
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Junaid Ali Qureshi is an ecommerce entrepreneur with a passion for tech and marketing. Some of his current ventures include Elabelz.com, Progos Tech, Titan Tech and Smart Marketing.
