XFER Blog

Email attachments are a staple of digital communication, but they’re also one of the most common ways malware, viruses, and phishing schemes sneak past users. We’re all guilty of clicking that little paperclip before we assess the factors that could really end up being a pain in the side for you and your business. Before you click and potentially regret it, you need to take a beat. This month, we give you a comprehensive checklist for securely opening email attachments.

Email is necessary for your business to function, but it’s far from a perfect solution. In fact, you might experience all kinds of issues with it that can eat into your company’s productivity and put it at risk in more ways than one. We’re going to demystify two of the major problems that businesses experience with email so you can hopefully get your business back on track.

Phishing and other email-based scams have become the most common gateway for cybercriminals to breach company defenses. Every day, attackers are developing more creative and convincing ways to dupe unsuspecting employees into clicking malicious links, downloading dangerous attachments, or sharing sensitive information. 

As a result, organizations need to be aware that even the most advanced security infrastructure can be undermined by a single, uninformed click. 

Have you ever thought about whether a hacker could secretly read your emails with your clients and coworkers? If you handle your own email system, it's really important to know about email encryption. Encryption helps keep your emails safe and private so you can focus on running your business without worrying about hackers.

Here are three big problems you could face if you don’t encrypt your emails:

Technology brings a fair amount of automation to any organization that chooses to use it. One of the most popular ways that automation is used is by sending emails. Automated emails can be used in support of nearly any action your business takes, but there are questions whether some of them actually offer the value you think. Today, we discuss some of the pros and cons of automated emails. 

While we all know how much magic the workshops up at the North Pole rely on to produce presents for the good children of the world, we have it on good authority that they also rely on quite a bit of technology. For instance, there are a lot of letters that need to be sorted and read before Santa’s big ride. Let’s read up on what our partners up north frequently deal with in their critical operations.

A business email compromise attack is a phishing scam in which a scammer uses email to take possession of capital—either in the form of data or actual finances—from the organization they choose to target. Lately, these scams have been observed to focus on schools.

Let’s review the situation at hand and what is at stake.

Email is undeniably a fantastic communication tool. However, there are certain things you should never share via email for safety reasons. Let’s explore what these are—because when it comes to security, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

In this blog, we continuously try to caution individuals against clicking on suspicious links, but distinguishing between a genuine URL and a questionable one has become increasingly challenging. Malicious tactics have evolved, making it imperative for everyone to remain vigilant. These threats are pervasive, coming from various directions. This discussion will focus on a single punctuation mark that can help determine whether a link is genuinely safe or potentially perilous.

Email is complex, despite all appearances. It’s easy to overlook its complexities when you log into your account and it just works. However, you’ll need to ensure that your email is managed properly, as well as secured with protective measures for the underlying technology. Let’s go over some of the more effective methods you can use to keep your infrastructure secure from all types of threats, whether they are visible or hidden.

Printing has long been an integral aspect of doing business. In recent years people have witnessed a significant decrease in the necessity for printed materials. Despite this trend, many businesses continue to spend unnecessary resources on superfluous printing. Like every business, cost is a factor. We’ll offer you three valuable recommendations for consistently decreasing your printing expenses.

Phishing attacks are the most common attack vector used by hackers, and while it helps to know what a phishing attack looks like, it’s also good to know what they don’t look like. The latest example of a phishing attack takes this to an extreme, utilizing blank messages to confuse recipients in a creative take on phishing attacks.

Have you ever considered the importance of client-side encryption for your Gmail and your Calendar? If you implement it, you can create meetings and send or receive emails that have been encrypted before they are sent to Google’s servers. Organizations using Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus can expect this client-side encryption tool, but personal users will be left in the dust.

Have you ever tried using an email group? You might find that it helps you stay organized and efficient. Instead of sending a copy of an email to each and every recipient, you can basically create a “forum” of sorts to make collaboration easier than ever. You can do this through the groups feature in Gmail.

There are times when you might receive an email written in another language. Even if it’s unlikely, it helps to be able to translate a message for the rare time when you might receive one, particularly if your organization occasionally conducts business beyond your country’s borders. Let’s go over how you can use Gmail’s built-in translation functionality.

For Microsoft Outlook users, you’ll notice that there is a feature called Focused Inbox which groups together all of the important messages you receive while placing all of the less important ones in the Other inbox. If you don’t like this feature and want to change it, we have just the tip for you.

Depending on the software your business uses, you might find yourself either struggling to collaborate or reaping the rewards of doing so. When it comes to collaborative integrations, there are many innovative options on the market. Let’s examine some of the best options you have available to you.

Email is a solution that your business uses just about every single day, and as one of your central methods of communication, you need to consider how it’s managed and maintained. Thankfully, modern businesses have more choices available to them than ever before, some of which are so hands-off and easy that they can completely change how a business views their email.

Whenever you go to send an email, you might glance at the CC and BCC fields and wonder what they are used for, or perhaps you are an avid user of both. Well, let’s take a look at what CC and BCC are supposed to be used for and whether or not you actually use them for their intended purpose.

What does your email inbox look like? Do you keep it clean for the most part, or do you let it get out of control because of how many email lists you find yourself on? If you find that you have a lot of trouble with managing your email inbox, well, read on. You’ll find some tips for how you can effectively manage and potentially even clean up your inbox!