Email on the internet is sent by the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). It is a very widely used communication method. If an email account is hacked it can allow the attacker access to the personal,sensitive, or confidential information in the mail storage; as well as allowing them to read new incoming and outgoing email – and to send and receive as the legitimate owner. On some email platforms, it may also allow them to set up automated email processing rules. All of these could be very harmful to the legitimate user.
There are many ways in which a hacker can illegally gain access to
an email account.
1) Phishing
The most common way email gets hacked is through phishing. It is usually done by sending out an email that looks legitimate and sends the recipient to a fake website and has them enter credentials to “verify” information, which is then stolen.
2) Man in the Middle Attack (MITM)
A MITM attack happens when emails are sent between two parties, unless BOTH parties use encryption the message is open and can be read by anyone who intercepts it.
3) Password guessing
This can be especially dangerous with how much personal information is put online through social media, making it easier for a hacker to find the date of birth, mobile numbers, or names of family members which are often used as passwords by many users.
Safety Measures:
1) By creating strong passwords using letters, alphabets, and numbers.
2) Don’t click on suspicious links or texts in emails.
3) Ensure antivirus and anti-spy software are updated.
4) By using two-factor authentication.
5) Don’t store passwords on your devices. Anyone getting
access (physical or remote) to your device will easily get to
know your passwords.
EMAIL HACKING CASES
1) In October 2021, the email id of the cyber cell of Mumbai was hacked. It happened through a pdf file attached to the phishing mail has the subject “Terrorists behind J&K attack gunned down in Mumbai”.
2) In February 2022, A complaint from Vodafone Idea that a 21- year-old man from Gaya in Bihar had hacked into the official email id of the company and then sent an official mail within the internal server of Vodafone Idea to request a sim replacement for the registered mobile number for net banking of Vodafone Idea at Bank. The hacker had then credited Rs 94.57 lakh from various bank accounts of Vodafone Idea.
3) In August 2018, A fraudster allegedly hacked Avnish Kumar’s email account and sent emails to several people claiming that he was facing financial problems. However, Kumar’s friends didn’t fall prey to the attempt, as they instantly called him