Email Login Security Checklist – 2022

Email is used for the majority of business interactions or personal communication. The technicality, audience, and intended results of the emails you send will vary based on your goals. It also means that a significant amount of delicate, personally identifiable information (PII) remains in the mailboxes of every email user.

A solitary ransomware attack or privacy flaw, on the other hand, can cause more than just potential disruption. It can put all interested parties at risk of identity theft, extortion, and, ultimately, financial loss. For businesses, these kinds of attacks may even damage their reputation which presents greater business issues.

With the alarming statistics and reports of email security threats and flaws, this article provides a checklist of the steps to take to secure your email login. These steps are applicable for both personal and business use.

2022 Checklist

Here is the list of email login security checklist:

• Proxies
• Strong passwords
• Two-factor authentication
• Update your OS
• Public Wi-Fi
• Unknown links in emails
• Always sign out
• Encrypt your connections

Let’s dive into each point and see how these work in protecting your email login.

1.   Proxies

Users are flooded with emails containing suspicious URLs or spyware attachments these days. Proxies aid in detecting malicious content by allowing users to scan emails from various IP addresses. As a result, when using Wi-Fi networks, a proxy is the best way to preserve your email and login details.

Proxies connect a user’s computer to the majority of the web. They act as an internet gateway, connecting consumers to the web pages they visit via an indirect connection. Proxies mask your actual IP and keep your information safe.

Datacenter proxies and residential proxies are the two most common types of proxies. Residential proxies from Rayobyte allow you to surf the web as if you were an actual user in a specific place. It is routed to the centralized server via your residential proxy when you request a keyword search.

Your true Internet address is concealed, and websites perceive your actions as if you were a regular visitor. Depending on the provider, you can target locations with an excellent residential proxy bunch, and all requests should be HTTPS encoded for safety.

2.   Strong Passwords

Your login password must be strong enough to defend your email address from cyberattacks. Strong passwords are recommended not just for email accounts but for all online accounts we own. The general rule is that if a password is simple to remember, it isn’t strong enough.

Users who use password management software should ensure that all usernames and passwords in the framework are updated regularly. Multilingual passwords can be used to protect credentials-based accounts. Never use usernames and passwords that are only arithmetic, such as your birthdates or contact information. Special characters, lowercase and uppercase alphabets, and numbers can all be used in your passwords.

3.   Two-Factor Authentication

Cybercriminals can still crack your passwords even if they are strong. You can prevent them from compromising your mail account using two-factor verification. With two-factor authentication, a code will be sent to the user via mobile to verify that the real owner is accessing the account. Without the code, the email cant be accessed, therefore, preventing attackers from penetrating your email. In addition, if someone attempts to penetrate your email account, you will receive a warning notification.

4.   Update Your OS

Ensure that your devices run on an updated operating system. It’s common for older systems to have security loopholes. Hackers can take advantage of these flaws to gain access to a system.

OS updates offer new security measures against these malicious attacks. These updates and repairs often close loopholes that hackers exploited in previous software versions. The WannaCry ransomware attack is an excellent example of this type of flaw.

5.   Public Wi-Fi

You’re probably aware that public Wi-Fi isn’t as safe as your network. If you are inspecting your email on an airport or cafe Wi-Fi network, you should be cautious. Someone could install a keylogger to grab your login details on those devices.

Because HTTPS is widely used, your behavior on most websites will be secure from prying eyes elsewhere on the internet. However, if you don’t own the network, you can’t be sure how it’s set up.

There are a few security measures that you can take to protect your information from hackers:

• When at all possible, it’s better to stick with compatible devices like your phone.
• If you have to use public Wi-Fi, always search for a password-protected network.
• Always turn off automatic Wi-Fi connection settings from your device.
• Enable a firewall in order to capture the real-time traffic coming or going from your device. The firewall will protect your device from unauthorized or malicious connectivity.

6.   Unknown Links in Emails

Because phishing is common, it’s best to follow a general rule and that is to never tap links within emails if you’re unsure. While you can preview the destination URL by hovering your cursor over a link, this isn’t always accurate. Most email fraud relies on you clicking a link to a bogus website.

Clicking a link will, at the very least, inform the scammer that your email is engaged and you are inclined to click on the links. At worst, it could lead you to a website that tries to infect your computer with malware or steal your personal information.

7.   Always Sign Out

Allowing someone to see your email account is not a good idea. Even if you’re only going to take a quick break, you should always lock your desktop. A passerby could otherwise check your mail or change your password.

It’s always a wise option to sign out of your email account when you’re not using it, in addition to locking your screen. This is particularly important if you’re using another person’s desktop or if someone else has direct exposure to your system.

8.   Encrypt Your Connections

Encrypt the linkage between your desktop and your email server to protect your private information from cybercriminals. It restricts snoopers from intercepting personal information such as usernames and email addresses.

Some email services, such as Gmail and Outlook, instantly encrypt your connection. Others necessitate you to change your privacy controls manually.

Standard protocols for securing email transmissions include TLS and SSL. TLS or Transport Layer Security is a privacy-enhancing security protocol that encrypts email. TLS protects email from unauthorized access while in transit over the web. At the same time, SSL is responsible for establishing an encrypted connection between client and server.

Conclusion

Email login security is a critical factor in guaranteeing overall cyber security. As a result, any organization or individual with security concerns must strictly follow the email login security checklist described above.

Business domains should make strategic email distributors and invest in cybersecurity solutions. Because some vendors offer outbound SMTP, spam detection, spoofing security, and other security mechanisms for free.