Your Email Security Best Practices

Email has become a significant part of modern-day digital relationships. You can hardly have online presence without a functional email address. Most digital interactions in one way or the other would require sign-in, sign-up, or both using email address. For instance, handheld mobile device like iPhone or android cannot function without optimizing it through email sign-in. What this means is that if you do not have working email address, you cannot fully access and activate the capabilities of these mobile devices.

Our email; whether private or professional one deserves special security attention. Hackers knew the importance of this tool as introduced above, hence it has become their main route to scout for unsuspecting or ignorant online users from whom confidential private information is generated for criminal acts. For instance; through emails these hackers deploy phishing, spoofing, whaling, and baiting as popular methods to gather private information from online users.

having said this, note your email can be safely used when you are conscious of the presence of cybercriminals who are targeting victims in various ways through it. Make effort to protect your emails by following best security practices. See below list and brief description of some best practices for your email security.

Use strong password: for password to be considered strong, it must have minimum of eight letters. These letter must contain alphanumeric characters like abc123&*@. Strong password is a good security practice that will keep your email protected from cybercriminals who may attempt to have unauthorized access to such it with intent to steal confidential information.

Keep your password confidential: your password is part of your private information, as such it should never be disclosed to anyone. protect and keep it confidential.

Review and update password periodically: to use one password too long will make your email vulnerable and expose it to avoidable security risk. Change and update your password from time to time.

Active two-factor authentication: this is an electronic access authentication method whereby a user will be asked to present two or more levels of private information as proof of identity and ownership before access is granted to an application. Activating two-factor-authentication (2FA) will further protect your email from unauthorized access by criminals.

Avoid opening strange links: online shared links received from unexpected and unknown sources should first be seen and treated as malware. Cyber space is full of malicious files, codes, applications and software. These malwares are oftentimes shared to unsuspecting and ignorant online users as links. To protect your email; open only links received from known and trusted source, and delete the ones from unknown sources.

Avoid public wifi network: free public wifi is a potent avenue for security attack. Cyber criminals sometimes provide and use it to monitor and generate confidential information from unsuspecting and ignorant users. To play safe and protect your information requires you should avoid it.

Pause and check before you click: the human error of unconscious surfing internet is what hackers take advantage of to share malwares.  It is a good security practice not to haste to click on anything, e.g., pop-ups, links, download, etc. Always stop, check, and verify what it is before you decide.

Avoid download from strange source: it is a good security practice to avoid random online downloads. Files shared from unexpected and strange sources should be seen and treated as malware. Download files from trusted source.

Avoid strange sign-in or sign-up: most online transactions would require you to sign in or sign up. In either case, use of email is a precondition. When this request come from unexpected and strange source, it should be avoided.

Update system software periodically: to keep a system (computer or mobile device) safe, its software and applications need to be updated from time to time. Such updates can enhance its security capability to protect against malwares and other security threats.

Review and update security and privacy setting: your email contains privacy and security setting where it is required that updates should be carried out periodically. It is a good security practice to routinely check it and activate necessary updates.

Email has become a very important part of our digital lives. It has also become prime target for cyber criminals. To use it safely requires conscious security practices.

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About Author

Azubuike Nwenewo

is a seasoned Security Practitioner; Police Officer, Security Coach, Blogger and Author. He is passionate about peacebuilding and value protection. He is an advocate for positive peace and demilitarization. He likes reading and writing.

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