Email security on company devices

If you looked at this email fast, you’d swear it came from Microsoft. Same logo, layout, tone - everything checks out. Except for one thing: The sender’s domain was rnicrosoft(.)com instead of microsoft(.)com That tiny swap of “rn” instead of “m” is what’s called typosquatting. Attackers register near-identical domains to catch people who skim their inbox too fast. What makes this effective is how subtle it is. On mobile, you barely see the full address. On desktop, your brain autocorrects it. It feels right and that’s all they need. These kinds of tricks are showing up more often in credential phishing, vendor invoice scams, even internal HR impersonations. How to handle these cleanly (real, practical steps): - Expand the full sender address every time before you click. - Hover the link to view the real href, or long-press the link on mobile to reveal the URL. - Check the Reply-To header -- scammers often route replies elsewhere. - If it’s a password reset you didn’t request, open a new tab and log in from the official site rather than clicking the email. - Forward the phish to your security team or report it (company phishing inbox / your provider’s report feature). Examples of look-alikes to watch for: swapped letters (rn → m), zero for o (micros0ft), added hyphens or extra subdomains (microsoft-support[.]com). Small habit change, big payoff. Teams that rehearse these scenarios stop reflexively clicking.

Google Workspace Users: Read this before you hit send. Starting October 20, Google is rolling out "Data Protection Insights" for Gmail. It is an expansion of the reporting tools many organizations already use for Google Drive. Here’s what this means for you and your team: • Your admins will get a new, powerful report. • This report shows trends in sensitive data leaving your organization via Gmail: credit card numbers, national IDs, passport numbers, and more. It doesn’t show every email body, but it does give leadership a clear picture of potential risk. It makes risk visible at a glance. Think of it as a quarterly “heat map” for data loss; except Gmail’s insights update daily and focus on outgoing messages over the past month. What you should NOT do: • Don’t use your work Gmail for highly private matters (bank IDs, credit card details, personal tax docs, etc.). • Don’t assume your work email is “private.” Admins can see metadata and, in certain cases, message content if a rule is triggered or an investigation is launched. • Don’t send sensitive info to external parties unless your company policy allows it, and use encryption or secure file-share if you must. For the C-Suite: This is the moment to revisit confidentiality agreements, storage locations for these reports, and who has access to them. The Data Protection Insights console is a map of where your most sensitive data lives. One compromised admin account, and an attacker could walk away with insights that make phishing, extortion, or identity theft far easier. Think of it as a hacker’s dream dashboard... unless you lock it down properly. What Schools Must Do: • Update Your AUP (Acceptable Use Policy): Make sure students and parents know that Gmail accounts are monitored for safety and compliance, not privacy. • Train Teachers & Staff: Remind staff not to email highly sensitive files without encryption. • Separate Personal & School Accounts: Students (and staff) should not use school Gmail accounts for private information like bank IDs, credit card numbers, or medical records. • Review Access Controls: Ensure only authorized IT and safeguarding leads can view these reports. For District Leaders & Safeguarding Teams This is a great time to: • Revisit confidentiality agreements with staff. • Document where reports are stored and who can access them. • Build a response plan if a report reveals accidental data exposure. This update appears to be a good thing. It helps organizations spot risk early and build stronger data policies. But, it also raises the bar on employee awareness. Bottom line: Treat work email as a monitored channel. Keep personal information personal. And make sure your leadership team is ready to protect what these reports reveal. #GoogleWorkspace #EducationTechnology #Cybersecurity #DataProtection #StudentSafety #EdTech #SchoolLeadership #DigitalSafety #K12Education #PrivacyMatters #InformationSecurity #ChildOnlineSafety #DataGovernance Kompass Education

A Phishing Pandemic on the Horizon ⚡ Last Friday, I was targeted by a phishing attack from what appeared to be a trusted source — a Tier 1 bank, no less. (Snapshot below) At first glance, everything seemed legitimate. But, as someone with a zero-trust mindset, I knew to dig deeper, and red flags quickly emerged: 🚨 Red Flag #1: Sender's Address
The email was from a "Zoom" domain (no-reply@zoom.us) but bizarrely carried the bank's official name. This mismatch between the sender's address and the supposed source is a classic phishing tactic designed to deceive. 🚨 Red Flag #2: Suspicious Links! 
A link for calendar integration seemed innocent, but I didn't trust it. My curiosity led me to run a technical analysis in a sandbox environment. Interestingly, a webinar scheduled for 8 am suddenly shifted to 3 am the next day. Though it redirected to Zoom’s official site, I remained cautious and didn’t proceed with the download. 🚨 Red Flag #3: Spelling Mistakes
Misspelled words and rushed edits added to the suspicion. Professional institutions usually have tight quality controls, so this was another indicator. My takeaway? Be Paranoid about "Digital Trust". 🧐 🔑 Here’s how you can stay safe: 
1️⃣ Check the Sender's Email Address: Always ensure the email domain matches the organization. Look out for subtle differences.
 2️⃣ Hover Over Links Before Clicking: Reveal the URL by hovering over links. If something seems off, it probably is.
 3️⃣ Be Wary of Attachments: Confirm with the sender through another communication channel before opening any attachments.
 4️⃣ Spot the Language and Content Red Flags: Be cautious of generic greetings, vague language, and grammatical errors. 💼 Recommendations for Businesses:
 🔒 Email Filtering & Security: Implement tools to detect and block phishing before it hits the inbox.
 👥 Employee Training: Regularly train your team to spot phishing and practice safe email habits.
 🔐 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Add an extra layer of security to safeguard against potential breaches. Have you been targeted by a phishing attack? Looking forward to your comments and contributions.

Having anti-virus software DOES NOT give you a free pass against phishing threats.  They do not prevent your users from falling for sophisticated social engineering attacks. No amount of legacy anti-virus software can stop an employee from entering their Office 365 credentials into a devious phishing site.  Or keep an executive from approving a multi-million dollar fraudulent transaction.  Phishing has evolved way beyond just malware delivery. Increasingly, it's a complex, multi-vector con job targeting your most important asset - your people.  Phishers don't always need an infected device to succeed; just uninformed recipients. Here are 4 steps you can take to mitigate risks:   1. 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬: Regular training sessions with mock phishing scenarios can help employees recognize and avoid phishing attempts. This is crucial as phishing attacks often rely on tricking users into giving away their information. 2. 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐎𝐛𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: This is a technique where the information presented to potential attackers is constantly changing, making it difficult for them to gain a foothold. It can be particularly effective in protecting against phishing attacks that rely on gathering information about the system or the users. 3. 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐌𝐅𝐀): While MFA is a common recommendation, using a phishing-resistant MFA adds an extra layer of security. This could involve using hardware tokens or biometric data, which are much harder for a phishing attack to replicate. 4. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐋𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Invest in a comprehensive, multi-layered, anti-phishing security solution that covers all aspects of your business. That means adding a specialist cloud email security solution like MailGuard, to your email security stack.   Modern phishing protection must blend cutting-edge technology with comprehensive security awareness.  Believing otherwise is the real virus that can leave you vulnerable.

Let’s face it—despite next-gen firewalls and endpoint protection, most breaches still start the old-fashioned way: through email and web browsers. Why? Because they’re the tools we use every day, and that makes them the easiest to exploit. The Problem ✔ Email is a hacker’s best friend—phishing, BEC scams, and weaponized attachments keep evolving. Even with filters, one cleverly disguised email can bypass defenses and trick even savvy users. ✔ Browsers are the wild west—malicious ads, drive-by downloads, and rogue extensions turn routine web browsing into a minefield. And with SaaS apps everywhere, employees are constantly logging into new (and sometimes risky) sites. Basic spam filters and antivirus won’t cut it anymore. Attackers use AI-generated messages, zero-day exploits, and social engineering to slip past traditional defenses. What Actually Works ✅ AI-powered email filtering that detects subtle phishing cues (not just obvious spam). ✅ Browser isolation or strict extension controls to stop malicious code before it executes. ✅ Zero Trust policies—because assuming "trusted" users or devices is a recipe for disaster. ✅ Ongoing security training—because human error is still the weakest link. The Bottom Line If your security strategy isn’t obsessed with locking down email and browsers, you’re leaving the front door wide open. #CyberSecurity #EmailSecurity #BrowserSecurity #ZeroTrust #Phishing

❌ Stop thinking spoofing only happens to big organizations or tech companies. You should learn from these real-life examples instead. 👀 Is this you right now? You see headlines about email scams, fake websites, and caller ID fraud. You think your business or personal accounts are too small to be a target. But here’s the truth: Spoofing can hit anyone—any business, any individual, at any time. 🔑 Here’s the strategy you should adopt to protect yourself and your organization from spoofing attacks: 1️⃣ Always verify suspicious communication → Many spoofing attacks rely on you not double-checking details. → Verify email addresses, phone numbers, and URLs before responding or clicking. 2️⃣ Strengthen email security → Spoofed emails can trick even the most seasoned professionals. → Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to protect your domain from email spoofing. 3️⃣ Educate your team → Awareness is your best defense. → Regularly train employees to spot signs of spoofing—like subtle changes in email addresses or unusual requests. 📌 Bonus tip for you: Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) → Even if attackers steal login credentials, MFA adds a layer of protection → Enable it wherever possible to stay one step ahead. 👀 Ready to stop spoofing in its tracks? Start by adopting these strategies and stay vigilant. Spoofing is preventable if you take the right steps now. #CyberSecurity #Spoofing #EmailSecurity #DataProtection

Last week, I shared Microsoft’s recommendations for combatting abusive AI-generated content, including the growing threat of deepfakes. While deepfake scams remain a top concern for enterprise leaders and we must be vigilant and prepared to defend against them, it’s important to note that Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes currently pose a far greater threat to organizational security. Last May, Microsoft Threat Intelligence reported 35 million BEC attempts annually, and a recent study from Perception Point found that BEC attacks had risen 1,760% in the past year. Like other social engineering tactics, BEC attacks exploit organizations’ weakest link: their people. Using generative AI, scammers can create more convincing phishing emails that are harder to spot, duping employees into sharing sensitive information that leads to data breaches and millions of dollars in loss. Not surprisingly, teams in finance, treasury, procurement, and HR are the most frequent targets. This piece shares some excellent points on prioritizing security against BEC attacks, including monitoring vendor payment data, unifying fraud prevention efforts across the organization (something we are implementing across our own teams here at Microsoft), and deploying fraud prevention software (such as Microsoft 365 Fraud Protection) as an extra layer of defense. I would also add requiring multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all employees, implementing a Zero Trust strategy for identity access and management, and adopting secure email and payment platforms. In this unpredictable and ever-changing landscape, one thing is clear: whatever the modus operandi, AI-enabled attacks will continue to rise. We must be prepared to tackle them at scale. You can revisit our Cyber Signals report on BEC attacks for more insights and recommendations from our Threat Intelligence team: https://lnkd.in/eiXtCUbk https://lnkd.in/eHHDfzSE #Cybersecurity #FraudPrevention #AI #BEC #SocialEngineering 

📧 Today’s Suggestion: Master Email Security. Your Gateway Against Modern Threats 🛡️ Email remains the #1 vector for phishing, malware, data leaks, and fraud and attackers are only getting smarter. I just reviewed “Mastering Email Security” by Dashrath Jamadar, and it’s one of the most practical field guides for anyone defending organizational communication. 🧠 What You’ll Learn: How modern email gateways work: From real-time threat detection to policy enforcement and SIEM integration Essential log types & SIEM use-cases: Track every delivery, block, quarantine, and DLP event Key defense tactics: Sandboxing, URL rewriting, attachment scanning, and NLP for social engineering Incident response in action: Step-by-step workflows for both inbound and outbound threat scenarios Vendor landscape for 2025: Proofpoint, Mimecast, Microsoft, Cisco, Barracuda, Fortinet, Trend Micro, Symantec, Zscaler, Google Workspace, and more 💡 Bonus: 12 actionable use cases from BEC and zero-day exploits to insider threat detection, DLP, and advanced threat intel integration. 🔄 Why it matters: Email is your digital front door. From technical controls to policy and user training, layered defenses are the only way to stay ahead. 🚨 Scenario-driven response: The guide breaks down real alert triage — how to validate, investigate, contain, escalate, and prevent both outgoing data leaks and inbound malware/phishing. Want the full PDF or ready to swap use cases and best practices? Let’s connect! 🖊️ Prepared by: Dashrath Jamadar #EmailSecurity #Phishing #CyberSecurity #SIEM #DLP #SOC #IncidentResponse #InfoSec #Mimecast #Proofpoint #MicrosoftDefender #ZeroDay #SecurityAwareness #EmailGateway #Malware #DataLossPrevention #ThreatIntel

"How Attackers Are Using Password-Protected Files To Bypass Detection and How to Stop Them?" In war, using enemy's weapon against them is a powerful tactic! Cyber attackers apply this meticulously: Using the same defenses meant to protect us to their advantage. It's like turning our shields into their secret weapon. In today's post, "password protected file" is that weapon. Password-protected files are intended to share files securely with others. They can be documents, PDFs, ZIP files etc. They simply prompt for a password when opened. But attackers intelligently use it as an attack vector to bypass detection. Let's see how... 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄: 1) Attacker creates & sends a password protected malware file as an email attachment. 2) Security tools can't analyze them as automated scanning fails (since file is password locked). 3) Victim opens the file that's disguised as legit doc (often as invoice). 4) Victim assumes that since its sensitive file it might have been password protected. Notices the password mentioned in the same email body. Enters it. 5) Victim now opens the files inside > Ransomware or malware gets executed on the device. Thus, attackers bypass the email/network gateway security and reach the device very cunningly. Instead of an attachment, a common trend these days is to use password protected Dropbox or Google Drive file link to achieve the same. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀? --> Depending on your company requirements, consider blocking or quarantining emails with password-protected attachments. (With the current enterprise secure sharing options available, users should not be relying on password protected files anyway). --> A few email security vendors do support scanning of password protected files if the password is present in the mail body. Turn on these features for SOC team's visibility. --> To tackle these attacks, evaluate what dynamic preventative security controls at web browser and end point level are present. i.e. what controls do you have if the file redirects the user to a malicious site or attempts to install malware? --> Educate the users about these scenarios. Tell them that password protected files are suspicious. Tell them that if the password is listed in the same email, it's even more suspicious. If you enjoyed this or learned something, follow me at Rohit Tamma for more in future! #ransomware #incidentresponse #cybersecurity #informationsecurity #cyberattack #threatdetection

🔍 Email Header Analysis: The First Step in Cybersecurity Defense! 🔐 Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and phishing attacks remain one of the most common entry points for attackers. Understanding email headers can help us detect spoofing, phishing attempts, and unauthorized senders before they become a security nightmare. 📩 What to Look For? ✅ SPF, DKIM & DMARC – These authentication mechanisms verify if an email is truly from its claimed sender. ✅ Header Analysis Tools – Platforms like MXToolBox, VirusTotal, and Whois DomainTools can help analyze sender domains and IP addresses. ✅ Suspicious Attachments & Links – Always test in a sandbox environment before interacting with them. ✅ Red Flags in Headers – Look for discrepancies between “From” and “Return-Path” addresses, mismatched domains, and unexpected relay servers. 🚨 Mitigation Steps: 🔹 Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) 🔹 Conduct phishing simulations to train employees 🔹 Implement email filtering & block suspicious domains 🔹 Report phishing attempts to email providers & cybersecurity teams By staying proactive and educating teams on email security best practices, we can reduce the risk of cyber incidents! 🔗 How do you analyze suspicious emails in your organization? Let’s discuss in the comments! #CyberSecurity #Phishing #EmailSecurity #ThreatAnalysis #SPF #DKIM #DMARC #OSINT #Infosec