Email account takeover (ATO) is a common but serious cyber security threat that targets individuals and businesses, often leading to financial and reputational damage.
Email account takeover (ATO) is a serious cyber security threat where unauthorised cybercriminals gain access to an email account. This often happens through stolen login credentials. Unlike identity theft, which involves creating new accounts, account takeover exploits the trust and established relationships.
Attackers typically use phishing emails, or token theft to gain access. Once an account is compromised, the attacker can use it to target others, sending emails from the compromised account that appear legitimate to carry out scams, steal data, or spread malware.
The Impact of Email Account Takeover
An email account takeover is not only an inconvenience, but it can have serious consequences. Attackers often use compromised accounts as a stepping stone to gain access to sensitive information, manipulate trusted relationships, or disrupt operations. This can damage your reputation and client trust.
- Financial Losses – cybercriminals often use fake payment links to steal money from your trusted contacts
- Data Theft – attackers can steal sensitive information including client contact information and payment details
- Reputational Damage – a compromised account used to send malicious content can damage the trust between your business and its clients
- Operational Disruption – recovering from an email account takeover can take up employees’ valuable time
Signs of Email Account Takeover
Spotting the early warning signs of an email account takeover can help prevent the signs of a breach. Changes to your account can be indicators that the security has been compromised. Paying attention to these changes can help you act quickly to regain control and prevent further damage.
- Unauthorised Sent Emails – emails you didn’t send appearing in your “Sent” folder, often containing suspicious links or attachments
- Missing or Moved Emails – emails being deleted, moved to other folders, or marked as read, but not by you
- Complaints from Contacts – reports of suspicious emails sent from your account
- Password Changes – alerts about password changes or being unable to access your account as your password has been changed
- Unusual Login Activity – you can ask your IT support team to check the sign in logs on your email account
Preventing Email Account Takeover
Relying on strong passwords, and multifactor authentication alone is no longer enough to protect your business’s email accounts. With the rise of clever phishing emails and token theft, the risk of compromised email accounts remains high. Preventing email account takeover requires a proactive approach that combines several cyber security measures.
- Advanced Email Security – scans the content of outbound, as well as inbound emails, for malicious content to help prevent sending as well as receiving of phishing emails
- Conditional Access Policies – evaluates factors such as location, device type, application in use, as well as the risk factor to grant or deny access to the email account
- Cyber Security Awareness Training – train employees on how to recognise threats, and what to do if spotted to help protect sensitive information and maintain trust with clients and partners
By partnering with cyber security experts and implementing proactive measures, businesses can reduce the risk of email account takeover, and help protect their relationships with their clients.
Contact us if you have any concerns about your email account.
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About Carrera UK
Carrera UK provide IT support, IT services, and telecoms to small businesses in Portsmouth & Southampton in Hampshire, and across the South of England.
We offer a complete suite of IT and telecoms service solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, including IT support, broadband, home working support, business phones, and websites.
We know how important IT is to your business and we will work hard as your trusted IT and telecom service provider to find the best solutions for you. Our IT support and solutions give you the assurance that your business technology will be robust, reliable, and cost-effective.
