Why don’t we give spammers a simple way to target your company? If you set up an Out of Office message when you’re away, you could be doing just that.
Before the days of never-ending spam email, people try to be helpful by giving alternative contacts to reach out to when they are out of the office. They included names, job titles, phone numbers and emails so that anyone sending them an email would know how to get help.
Unfortunately, 90% of the e-mail you get these days is spam. So, who does this old type of message help when it auto replies to all the emails you receive. With AI, scraping the emails out of auto reply messages is a quick way to target more people in your company, with convincing e-mail that looks like it came from you.
Keep Your Out of Office Message Simple
To protect yourself from spammers, we recommend in your Out of Office message, it should say…
- Your version of “I’m out”,
- Contact the person’s first name and last name initial, and
- the main company phone number.
If it’s a real human being that needs help, they’ll call.
Other Ways Spammers Get Your Email Address
Understanding how spammers get your email address can help you take steps to protect yourself. Here are some of the most common methods spammers use:
Data Breaches
When companies experience data breaches, your email address can be exposed and sold on the dark web. This is one of the most significant sources of email addresses for spammers.
Email Harvesting
Spammers use bots to scan websites, forums, and social media for email addresses. These bots can quickly gather large numbers of email addresses from publicly accessible sources.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing involves sending fake emails that appear to be from legitimate organizations. These emails trick you into revealing your email address and other personal information.
Purchased Lists
Spammers often buy lists of email addresses from other spammers or shady companies. These lists are compiled from various sources and sold to anyone willing to pay.
Guessing Attempts
Using software, spammers can guess common email address formats, such as firstname.lastname@example.com. This method relies on the predictability of email address structures.
Public Records
Email addresses can be found in public records and directories. Spammers can access these records to collect email addresses for their campaigns.
Malware Attacks
Some malware can harvest email addresses from infected computers. Once your computer is infected, the malware can access your email contacts and other stored information.
Fake Sign-ups
Spammers create fake sign-up forms to collect email addresses. These forms can be disguised as legitimate offers or services, tricking you into providing your email address.
How to Protect Yourself From Spammers
To reduce the risk of your email address being targeted by spammers, consider the following tips:
- Use strong passwords: Protect your email account with a strong, unique password to prevent unauthorized access. View our guide on how to create a strong password.
- Enable multi-factor authentication: By now, this is a necessity if you want to protect your mail from being stolen and have secure communications. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than none.
- Hover, Hover, Hover over Links: By hovering over a link you get to see where it is redirecting you. Never click a link from a financial site. Go to the site directly in your browser.
- Be EXTRA cautious with emails from unknown senders: Avoid opening emails or clicking on links from unknown or suspicious sources.
- Use a spam filter & train your Junk filter: Most email providers offer spam filters that can help reduce the number of spam emails you receive. Once the email is received, you can use your junk filter to fine tune wanted versus unwanted mail.
- Delete Unwanted emails… DAILY: Keeping your inbox clean is one of the safest ways to prevent accidental clicks. Just get rid of it. Do you really need the sales offer from 2 months ago?
Need Help on Improving Your Businesses Online Privacy?
By understanding how spammers obtain email addresses and taking proactive steps to protect yourself, you can minimize the impact of spam on your digital life. Stay vigilant and keep your email address safe!If you have any questions or need personalized consultation on protecting your online privacy, don’t hesitate to schedule a meeting with us. Call us at (610) 590-4858 or schedule a consultation today to level up your online privacy.