Email hijacking refers to the unauthorized and malicious access to an individual’s or an organization’s email account. This cyber attack allows cybercriminals to monitor, intercept, and manipulate sensitive communications with the purpose of stealing personal information, financial resources, or valuable company data.
It poses a significant threat to individuals, businesses, and organizations alike, as it can lead to financial loss, reputational damage, and leakage of confidential information.
How does email hijacking work?
Email hijacking typically involves the following tactics:
Social engineering and phishing scams
Cybercriminals use deceptive tactics such as impersonating a trustworthy entity or person to trick users into revealing their login credentials. They may send emails containing urgent requests or posing as support personnel, directing users to fraudulent websites where they unknowingly enter their usernames and passwords, which are then captured by the malicious actors.
Inserting viruses or malware
Attackers can use viruses or malware to gain unauthorized access to a user’s system and steal their email credentials. This can be achieved by sending seemingly innocuous emails containing malicious attachments or links that, once opened, infect the user’s device.
Exploiting security vulnerabilities
Attackers may find and exploit vulnerabilities in email systems or software to gain unauthorized access to email accounts, especially if these systems are outdated or poorly secured.
Different types of email hijacking
- Basic email hijacking: This involves hackers gaining unauthorized access to an individual’s email account and using it for malicious purposes, such as sending spam or phishing emails.
- Advanced techniques, such as conversation hijacking: In this method, attackers insert themselves into ongoing email conversations by compromising one of the participants’ email accounts, allowing them to monitor and manipulate the conversation for their own agenda.
- Email spoofing and impersonation: This involves sending emails with a forged sender address to trick recipients into thinking the message is from a trusted source. It can lead to successful email hijacking if users are deceived into revealing their login credentials or performing actions as requested by the attacker.
Comparing email hijacking and phishing
Email hijacking refers to gaining unauthorized access to an email account, while phishing is a broader term that covers any attempt to acquire sensitive information through deceptive practices, which may or may not involve email hijacking.
While email hijacking often involves phishing techniques, such as impersonation and social engineering, phishing attempts do not always result in the compromise of an email account.
Protecting against email hijacking
There are a number of steps you and your organization can take to protect yourself against email hijacking.
Strengthening email account authentication
Implement multiple layers of security, such as requiring a secure password and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), to reduce the chances of unauthorized access.
Encourage the use of unique, strong passwords for all accounts, and remind users to update them regularly.
Raising cyber awareness and educating users
Provide training and resources on how to identify and respond to potential email hijacking attempts, including recognizing suspicious emails, verifying the sender’s identity, and avoiding clicking dubious links or downloading suspicious attachments.
Implement a system for reporting suspicious emails and monitoring potential threats.
Implementing cybersecurity best practices in organizations
Keep software and systems updated with the latest security patches to minimize vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.
Implement email security measures, such as Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC), Sender Policy Framework (SPF), and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), to protect against email spoofing and hijacking.
Monitoring and responding to potential email hijacking incidents
Regularly review email accounts for signs of unauthorized activity or potential email hijacking attempts.
Promptly take action in case of a hijacked email account, such as resetting passwords, notifying contacts, and informing authorities if necessary.