Is e-mail safe?
We use e-mail as a fast and efficient way to get our information to our employees, vendors, and friends. But how do we know that our e-mail will not be high jacked and the personal information used for fraud? Bank Info Security has some tips for all of us regarding e-mail correspondence. (www.bankinfosecurity.com)
Send Only Secure e-mail. When sending correspondence to customers, include something only they would know, such as an image or some predetermined bit of information. Obviously, this would have to be an image or information that a hacker could not access if e-mail databases were compromised.
Urge Compartmentalization. Recommend that customers use different e-mail addresses for sensitive transactions related to work and tax-filing than they use when signing up for promotional offers online. Some people told me they have a Gmail or yahoo account for online offers and then only give out their local service e-mail to people they know.
Practice Transparency. Tell customers exactly how you plan to use the e-mail addresses you collect. Customers should know the names of every third-party you use for e-mail services, and they should understand how their e-mail addresses are stored and shared.
Use a Familiar Domain. Re-evaluate the common practice of relying on third parties to manage and send e-mails. When promotional e-mails go out to customers, the sending domains should not be unrecognizable.
Take Pains to Ensure Security. Any company that works with a third-party should ensure the security of all customer data. Understand how customer information is being stored and ensure it is protected on an internal basis.
Limit Access. Restrict internal access to customer files and databases. Only those who need access to certain bits of information should have access. That’s the best way to control these kinds of problems from reoccurring.
Educate, Educate, Educate. Be ever vigilant in the effort to educate customers about phishing and how not to answer suspicious e-mails. Organizations must consistently remind consumers that sharing personal data and information online should be limited if not eliminated.
I use zixmail at the bank. It is encrypted and you must establish a password with me to open it. Some companies (especially government entities) that I send to complain how time-consuming it is. But isn’t a little more time more important that having your private information used against you? Ah, if only everyone was honest and trustworthy.
The Money Mom
