More than 90% of cyber attacks start with a malicious email, either through phishing, malware or targeted fraud.
However, there is a way to strengthen e-mail security and minimize these risks: advanced authentication. Protocols such as SPF, DKIM and DMARC They protect companies from fraud and phishing and also improve the deliverability of legitimate emails, ensuring that they reach the inbox and not the spam folder.
In this article, we will explore the main threats in email, the key role of authentication and how MasterBase® works to ensure the security and effectiveness of business mailings.
Most common threats in e-mails
📩 1. Phishing: the most common scam
Phishing is an attack method in which cybercriminals impersonate trusted companies or individuals to deceive users and steal credentials or sensitive data.
🔹 Example: An email that appears to come from a bank and asks you to update your login details with a fraudulent link.
🎯 2. Spear Phishing: targeted attacks
Unlike mass phishing, spear phishing targets specific individuals and uses personalized information to make the deception more convincing.
🔹 Example: An employee receives a fake email in which the CEO allegedly requests urgent transfers or access to confidential information.
💼 3. Business Email Compromise (BEC): Corporate Fraud
Attackers compromise a legitimate business email account and use it to send fraudulent instructions to employees or vendors.
🔹 Example: A cybercriminal impersonates the finance department and sends an email requesting payment to a fraudulent account.
🦠 4. Malware and ransomware in attachments
Many attacks start with a seemingly harmless attachment that, when opened, installs malware or ransomware on the victim's system.
🔹 Example: An employee receives a Word file with malicious macros that install ransomware on the corporate network.
The key role of SPF, DKIM and DMARC in email security
To mitigate these risks, it is essential to authenticate e-mails and prevent third parties from spoofing corporate domains. This is where three key protocols come into play:
🔹 SPF (Sender Policy Framework): The first trust filter
SPF prevents cybercriminals from sending emails from a fake domain by verifying which servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of a company.
🔹 Example: If you receive an email from your bank's domain, SPF checks if it was really sent from an authorized server.
🔹 DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): The digital signature for email
DKIM adds a layer of security by attaching a unique digital signature to each email sent, ensuring that the message has not been altered during transit.
🔹 Example: If a hacker tries to modify an email on its way to your inbox, DKIM will detect and block it.
🔹 DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance): The last line of defense
DMARC relies on SPF and DKIM to decide how to treat suspicious emails and prevent phishing and spoofing attacks. It also provides reports on phishing attempts.
🔹 Example: If an attacker tries to send fake emails from a corporate domain, DMARC can reject those emails or mark them as spam.
Example of e-mail address spoofing
Without proper protections, such as SPF, DKIM and DMARC, it is extremely easy to spoof an email and pretend that it comes from a legitimate and trustworthy company.
A documented case demonstrates the following:
- One well-known aerospace company (Dassault-Aviation) was identified that did not have the DMARC protocol configured.
- It was possible to find out publicly who the CEO was and what was the usual format of the corporate email addresses.
- With this information, a false e-mail was generated from an address imitating that of a member of the Executive Committee. The message was successfully sent and received, without being blocked or flagged as suspicious.
Can SPF, DKIM and DMARC completely prevent phishing? Not completely.
It is still possible to deceive users by using visually similar addresses (e.g., customer-amazon.com, Linkedln.com with a lowercase "L" instead of an "i", or service-dashlane.com). These variations are difficult to detect with the naked eye.
However, SPF, DKIM and DMARC do prevent attackers from sending mail using a company's real domain without authorization.thus avoiding direct identity theft and protecting the brand's reputation.
These technologies are critical to building a more secure digital environment. Without them, attackers can exploit trust in a brand to deceive employees, customers or partners with complete ease.
MasterBase® and email security
At MasterBase®We understand that email authentication is essential to protect our clients from attacks and improve the deliverability of their campaigns.
✔ We require all our customers to configure SPF, DKIM and DMARC correctly. before sending, ensuring that your emails are legitimate and arrive in the inbox.
✔ We provide detailed support and guidance to help our customers configure these protocols in a simple way.
✔ We continuously monitor phishing attempts. to strengthen security and prevent fraud.
If you are a MasterBase® customer, please contact your Customer Success Manager to ensure that your domain is properly authenticated and protected.
Best practices to protect your inbox
In addition to authentication, there are additional measures you can take to avoid falling prey to email attacks:
🔹 Do not open e-mails from unknown senders.
🔹 Always verify the links before clicking.
🔹 Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all your accounts.
🔹 Train your employees in phishing detection.
🔹 Use advanced security solutions to filter malicious emails.
Conclusion
Email is still one of the main attack vectors in cybersecurity, but with advanced authentication and security best practicesrisks can be minimized.
SPF, DKIM and DMARC not only protect against fraud and identity theft, they also improve the reputation and deliverability of legitimate mailings. At MasterBase®, we ensure that every email sent meets these standardsWe guarantee the security and effectiveness of our clients' campaigns.
Don't let cybercriminals take control of your inbox. Protect your email with advanced authentication and strengthen your company's security.
