Email is one of the most common forms of communication, but it’s also one of the most vulnerable to cyberattacks. Hackers are always seeking ways to penetrate your email account, and even steal sensitive data.
The first step is to ensure your passwords are strong and unique. They should be at least 16 characters in length and include upper and lowercase characters, as well as numbers and symbols.
Another step is to use a secure email service provider (ESP). The best ones are equipped with anti-spam and anti-phishing tools that scan and remove malicious hyperlinks, attachments and other content prior to it reaching your inbox.
You can also secure your emails so that only you are able to read them. This is a good option for corporate emails where you don’t wish your employees to have the ability to forward or copy messages. Encrypting messages functions as an encrypted lock box, which has two keys which are your public key as well as your private key. If someone intercepts an encrypted message, they will see text that is unclear.
Be careful not to share your email address on social media or websites. If you need to use an alias, ensure that your actual email address doesn’t become visible. Use multi-factor authentication for every account that is important like your email. One hacked account can cause a number of others to be compromised which is why it’s worth the effort.
