Definition and Common Forms

A Malicious Email is an email that contains harmful content intended to compromise the recipient's computer and digital data. They are a common tactic employed by cyber criminals, and can come in various forms:

• Phishing Emails - Meant to imitate a legitimate entity in order to deceive recipients into taking actions that leave them extremely vulnerable to further malicious attacks.
• Spear Phishing Emails - Similar to a phishing email, but targeted towards the user specifically.
• Spam Emails- Unsolicited emails usually meant for advertisement. In some cases, they may hold harmful links or attachments.
• Adware Emails - Contain popup advertisements to generate revenue for the sender. The content of these popups may be targeted towards the user by giving them advertisements relevant to websites that they have recently visited.

How Can I Protect Myself from Malicious Emails?

• Use strong passwords and forms of MFA to secure your email account.
• Be wary for signs of phishing, including spelling and grammatical errors, unknown senders, and suspicious links.
• Keep your computer and smartphone updated to the most current version. These often contain security patches to help protect against malicious activity.
• Educate others in your family or organization on the harms of cyber attacks. If targeted, they may unintentionally reveal your information on top of theirs.