Don't let email jeopardize your security
posted by Stephan Thomasee on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 in SHAZAM Blog
Email is great for communicating with friends, cardholders and coworkers, but it can also be a great opportunity for fraudsters looking to steal sensitive information. To protect your business, follow these tips from SHAZAM corporate security.
Connecting
- Avoid unsecured networks. Browsing on an unsecured network is like having a private conversation in a room full of people. If you don’t have access to a secure network, use a secure connection, or better yet, a virtual private network.
- Skip the shared computer. Fraudsters can equip shared computers with malware and key-logging software to steal any information or passwords you enter. If you do use a shared computer, be mindful of the information you’re entering and clear your browser history when you’re done. See these instructions on how to delete your browser history in Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.
Sending and receiving
- Avoid links and attachments. Even when they come from seemingly legitimate addresses, links and attachments can contain malware that immediately begins downloading to your computer when you click on them. It’s best not to click on anything you weren’t expecting to receive. Read our blog post, Protecting yourself from phishing, smishing and vishing, to learn more.
- Don’t send sensitive information. Even if your customers send emails asking for information, and at times even sending sensitive information to you by email, never reply by email. Instead, call your customer using the phone number you have on file to discuss the information they’ve requested. Social Security numbers, account numbers, payment information and other sensitive data should never be sent over email. Even when sent securely using encryption, this information can still be exposed if the recipient responds via an unsecure network or account.
- Avoid sending to large distribution groups or posting your email address online. The more public your email address becomes, the more spam you’ll receive. Create a separate email address to be used for distributing large emails — it’ll also help prevent sending a private conversation to a lot of people.
Email is a powerful tool, whether in the hands of businesses and cardholders … or someone more sinister. Protect your institution from fraud by following these tips and share them with others in your organization.
Tags
- cybersecurity
- email
- phishing
- security
About the Author
Stephan Thomasee utilizes his technical background, proven business acumen and operational leadership capabilities to create value for internal and external customers. He utilizes IT to drive business growth by advancing security, enhancing performance, ensuring availability and refining function
... read entire bio
SHAZAM, Inc. and ITS, Inc. provide this blog for general informational purposes only. Our blog may be shared by a direct link wherein the content remains as originally presented and has not been altered. SHAZAM, Inc. and ITS, Inc. assume no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents on the blog. By using this blog, reader agrees that the information published does not constitute nor is a substitute for legal advice which should only be sought from a qualified, licensed attorney.
Comments
comments powered by