Email Security Zombies to Be Aware Of

Perhaps the most expedient function that branched from the march of computers is the email system. I wouldn't go into redundant introduction since you know this already. On the contrarary, what most didn't know is the actual level of usefulness of emails are the same with the levels of security risks they deliver.

Here is a list of the most encountered, yet undefined terms, portraying emails.

Spam

Spam pertains to the abuse of using electronic messaging services such as emails. Spamming is basically sending bulk messages that don't do the reciever any benefit. Though there is no immediate risks as other email security issues further defined below, spam can be the worst inevitable problem to everyone.

Spam Networks - The Bad Guys

Spamming networks are built up by dirty marketers and advertisers, most of which tries to sell irrelevant products, services, and information. Once they get their hands on an email account, they are going to include it in thier bulk list, to recieve their annoying marketing campaigns. You will see such campaign strategies delivered in all kinds, some trying to sell you stuff, some asking you to perform a survey, some others telling you "you will get paid." And this all happens via one email, that probably one million others have recieved as well.

Attack Emails

This next type of email security risk is less frequent, however it is more destructive. Viruses, malwares, adwares, and other threats travel the net via several means, and the email system is just one of them.

In this part lies a troublesome misconception. People think that what "downloading and opening an email" meant using desktop applications such as Microsoft Outlook to view your email, because prior to that you will have to download the mailbox to your computer. The catch is, even if you just viewed your email using a browser, you also download this information to be displayed - temporarily, that's how the browser functions. But that is enough to say that you also downloaded the virus whatnot to your computer and then the infection spreads.

Zombies

Zombies are malicious computer applications that stealthily send bulk emails to an email list - or a spam list which is the same used by a spam network. Spam networks are also responsible for these email zombies. They use zombies in order to keep a clean trail for themselves, such that someone will trace an email source to act upon an attack, tehy will instead be routed someones computer, who was unfortunately infected by a zombie application.

There are more email security risks out there than we know of, these are just the commonplace email threats you'll encounter.