SPF, DKIM, & DMARC: Understanding Email Authentication

cyber attacks, Domain keys Identified Mail (DKIM), Domain-based Message Authentication, reporting & Conformance (DMARC), email authentication, malicious emails, Ophtek, Sender Policy Framework (SPF), social engineering, Spica attack, , , , , , ,
30
Apr 2024

Authentication is crucial when it comes to tackling cybersecurity threats, and this is especially true when it comes to sending and receiving emails.

Many of today’s cybersecurity threats are delivered via email, such as the recent Spica attack. This can make people wary of emails landing in their inbox. But email represents a vital communication channel for businesses. Therefore, if you’re sending an email, you need to make sure that the recipients know it’s trustworthy.

One of the simplest ways to authenticate your emails is to use methods such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. You may not be familiar with these tools, but they can act as a stamp of approval that any emails you send are genuine. And it’s time to learn more about them.

Why Do You Need Email Authentication?

The threat of malware delivery over email is well known, with techniques such as social engineering and malicious links/files being prevalent in the digital landscape. Naturally, the last thing your stakeholders need is the threat of having their IT systems compromised. So, it’s important you can email safely and effectively.

The main benefit, of course, is that your stakeholders are less likely to fall victim to malware attacks. However, there are additional benefits. By implementing email authentication, you are actively building trust with your customers and partners. If you can prove your emails are genuine, the recipients are more likely to open them. Furthermore, email authentication ensures your emails are less likely to be labelled as spam, and this reduces the risk of them being redirected to junk folders.

The Principles of SPF, DKIM, & DMARC

The three main tools for authenticating emails ae SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Combining these three protocols together delivers a strong level of authentication and ensures your emails are read rather deleted. But what are they?

  • Sender Policy Framework (SPF): this tool eliminates the likelihood of email spoofing being used to impersonate the sender’s IP address. SPF records are published and can be verified by receiving systems to confirm an email is genuine. Once an email server cross references this SPF record against your IP address, it will deliver the email if it matches.
  • Domain keys Identified Mail (DKIM): acting as a digital signature to outgoing emails, DKIM provides a further layer of email authentication. This signature comprises an encrypted key pair, one stored publicly in your domain name system (DNS) and one stored privately. With this digital signature attached to an email, a recipient’s server can authenticate the private key against the public one stored in your DNS. This minimizes the risk of spoof emails and maximizes email security.
  • Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC): working alongside SPF and DKIM, DMARC acts not only as a form of email authentication but also as a reporting system. DMARC allows domain owners to dictate how recipients should handle emails which have failed SPF and DKIM checks. This is governed by policies laid out in the DMARC DNS record.

Authenticate Your Emails

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are all vital for mitigating the risks associated with malicious emails and the resulting impact on IT infrastructures. By implementing these three protocols, you are maximizing the efficiency of your email communications and fostering trust with your key stakeholders.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Organization’s Cybersecurity 

Backup, cyber attacks, cybersecurity, Ophtek, secure WIFI, Training, two-factor authentication, VPN, , , , , , ,
10
Oct 2023

With cyber-attacks showing no signs of slowing up, it’s more important than ever before to make sure your organization’s IT systems are protected. 

Luckily, this doesn’t necessarily involve huge amounts of investment. In fact, some of the most effective ways to protect your IT infrastructure are the simplest. But not ever business realizes this, and this is why so many find themselves falling victim to cybercriminals. Therefore, it’s crucial that you start implementing the best solutions for protecting your organization. 

How Do You Keep the Cybercriminals at Bay? 

To help you get started with securing your defenses, we’ve put together 5 easy ways to improve your organization’s cybersecurity: 

  1. Two-factor authentication: passwords are an amazing method of protection, and this is why they have been used as a security measure for decades. However, a breached password is of little use when it comes to securing your IT systems. Therefore, implementing two-factor authentication should be a major priority. This extra layer of security involves a user receiving a unique code – via registered text or email – to confirm their identity after entering their login credentials. This means that, even if a password is stolen, there is a further security hurdle to overcome. 
  1. Training as a team: training sessions are essential when it comes to educating your staff on the dangers of malware and threat actors. However, one-to-one IT induction processes aren’t enough. You also need to develop programs which train your team as a whole. Studies have shown that group learning is more effective and this is exactly what you need when building your IT defenses. 
  1. Secure your networks with a VPN: one of the best ways to protect your organization’s data and internet connections is by using a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN establishes secure connections between remote employees and the organization’s network, maximizing data privacy and preventing data breaches. It does this by encrypting data transmissions, shielding sensitive information from hackers, and preventing unauthorized access. Combined with tunneling protocols and authentication mechanisms, a VPN will help you create a secure digital barrier. 
  1. Create backups: many cyberattacks, particularly ransomware campaigns, focus on stealing and restricting access to data. This is why backups should form a major part of your IT defenses. By creating multiple backups – see our guide to the 3-2-1 backup method – you are essentially creating a safety net for your business in the event of a data breach. While it may not mitigate every negative impact of a data breach – such as customer data being leaked – it will minimize the risks of data loss.  
  1. Secure your Wi-Fi network: there’s absolutely no need for your Wi-Fi network to be publicly visible. By advertising the presence of your Wi-Fi network, you are inviting threat actors to test your defenses. Therefore, you need to not only secure and encrypt your Wi-Fi network, but also hide it from public view. This can be achieved by instructing your router to never broadcast its network name, also known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID). 

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals. 

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Interest in ChatGPT Related to New Malware Attacks 

ChatGPT, cyber attacks, malware, Ophtek, Phishing, two-factor authentication, , , , ,
04
Jul 2023

The launch of ChatGPT and its accompanying headlines have been heard around the world. And threat actors are leveraging this interest to launch new attacks. 

You don’t have to look hard to find a headline relating to ChatGPT, the latest and most intriguing AI service to be released to the public. Everyone has been talking about it and, of course, this also includes hackers. After all, anything which proves popular – such as social media and cryptocurrency – quickly becomes an attractive method of delivering malware. Now, while you and your business may not use ChatGPT daily, this latest campaign utilizes a few attack strategies you need to be aware of. 

How Has ChatGPT Got Caught Up in Malware? 

The massive interest generated by ChatGPT means that AI related apps are at the forefront of most internet users’ thoughts. As a result, threat actors have decided to turn this interest to their benefit with their most favored technique: deception. The attacks, which were discovered by Meta, the owners of Facebook, have involved 10 different malware families and, on Meta’s platforms alone, 1,000 malicious links relating to ChatGPT. 
 
Two of the most notable strains detected, which appear to have originated from Vietnam hacking groups, are NodeStealer and DuckTail. NodeStealer is a JavaScript-based piece of malware which is used to steal cookies and login credentials. DuckTail, meanwhile, not only steals cookies, but also focuses on hijacking Facebook business accounts to access lucrative ad accounts. Both of these malware strains are typically spread and activated via infected files or links to malicious websites. 

How Do You Stay Ahead of AI Malware? 

The official and genuine ChatGPT site has already been used by threat actors to develop new malware, so there is already concern about how it can be compromised. And this latest attack, while not directly involving the app, certainly adds fuel to the fire. Deception, of course, is nothing new in the world of hacking. But the number of people who fall for the duplicitous schemes of hackers is astronomical. Therefore, you need to remain on your guard by following these best practices: 

  • Use two-factor authentication: many of the malware strains identified in the latest round of ChatGPT-related attacks involve stealing credentials. Therefore, there’s never been a better time to implement a further layer of security in the form of two-factor authentication. While it won’t necessarily protect against session hijacks, two-factor authentication will significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts. 

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals. 

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Cyber Attacks Increase After Russia Invades Ukraine

cyber attacks, Hackers, Ophtek, Russian Hackers, Security, Ukraine, , , , ,
05
Apr 2022

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created headlines around the world; one of the lesser-known stories to emerge has been the increase of cyber attacks.

Numerous aspects of life have changed since Ukraine was invaded by Russian forces at the end of February. Alongside the military attacks and breakdown in social infrastructure that Ukrainians have had to contend with, there have been consequences for those outside the region as well. Supply chains have broken down, the price of fuel has risen and there is widespread skepticism over global peace. And, with the internet being such an integral part of modern society, there has been a notable rise in the number of cyber attacks occurring.

An Escalation in Cyber Attacks

The ensuing chaos of a war being waged on European soil and the military might of Russia has created the perfect environment for cyber attacks to thrive. Not only has Russia been accused of using cyber attacks as part of their campaign against Ukraine, but hackers have turned the situation to their advantage by exploiting concerns over the conflict.

As early as February, Ukraine was experiencing significant attacks on its defense ministry and two major banks. These DDoS attacks were used to temporarily take down websites associated with the targets and cause panic and certainty in financial and government sectors. Within 48 hours of the conflict breaking out, it was reported that an increase of 800% in the number of cyber attacks originating in Russia had been observed. There has also been a notable increase in attacks against Ukraine from groups allying themselves with Russia, the Stormous hacking group, for example, announced that they intended to target Ukrainian organizations with ransomware.

Independent hackers have also taken advantage of the conflict to boost the emotional credentials of their campaigns. With emotions and sympathies running high across the world, hackers have exploited these concerns by using Ukraine as a key email subject to increase engagement. Spam email campaigns have also been modified to use the Ukraine conflict as emotive honeypot used to trick recipients into making donations to false organizations.

How to Prepare for Spillover Attacks

While most of these attacks have targeted organizations in Ukraine, it’s likely that these attacks will soon spillover into allies of Ukraine and, eventually, any PC on the planet. As such, it’s crucial that you remain on your guard and observe the following:

Any source of conflict has the potential to cause uncertainty in the digital landscape and, with the Russia/Ukraine conflict expected to be in place for some time, it’s vital that you protect your IT infrastructures. Not only will this maintain IT continuity, but it will provide support for organizations in Ukraine.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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5 Signs That You Need to Upgrade Your IT Infrastructure

cyber attacks, IT Infrrastructure, Legacy Software, Old PCs, Ophtek, Storage Space, System Speeds, , , , , ,
14
Sep 2021

The business world is constantly evolving and it’s crucial that your IT infrastructure supports this. However, it’s important that you know when to upgrade.

A good IT infrastructure is the backbone of any successful organization in modern business. But, much like the way in which the business landscape quickly changes, the technology behind these infrastructures can soon be superseded. This leaves you at risk of losing out on gains in productivity. Gains that your competitors are sure to take advantage of.  IT equipment, however, is expensive and there’s little reason for upgrading for the sake of upgrading. You need to be able to recognize the warning signs that you IT infrastructure needs upgrading.

What are the 5 Signs?

Regularly reviewing the capabilities and condition of your IT infrastructure should be considered a vital business task. Any potential issues need to be addressed, but what should you be looking for? Well, you should start by keeping an eye out for the following:

  • Slow System Speeds: Nothing is more frustrating in the world of IT than slow system speeds. PC users want to be able to transfer between apps seamlessly and execute tasks quickly. Accordingly, if you find that your IT systems are consistently running slower then this should be treated as a major warning sign. Either the demands of your network can no longer be met or your systems are simply outdated. Whatever the reason, upgrading your IT infrastructure can quickly remedy the fault.
  • Regular Cyber-Attacks: If you find that your IT systems are regularly being breached by hackers then there’s a good chance it’s down to your IT infrastructure. Often this can be down to a lack of suitable protection. Evaluating your defenses should be a regular task to protect your systems. By regularly monitoring your defenses you should be able to spot vulnerabilities before hackers do.
  • Working with Old PCs: As we’ve already covered, technology changes quickly. And this means that your workstations can soon become outdated. PCs and laptops may not be low-cost items, but eliminating the faults most often associated with them – lack of speed, poor compatibility and limited features – is undeniably essential.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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