Due to the fact that the emails are coming from a trusted account, relying solely on traditional authentication measures may not be enough to detect the threat.
To tackle this issue, Mail Protection Service (MPS) utilizes advanced Email Hijacking Detection, which combines Natural Language Processing (NLP) with traditional Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) to identify suspicious email activity in real-time.
Going Beyond Conventional Email Security
Traditional email security solutions mainly focus on authentication and reputation checks like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC validation. While these are crucial, they may not be able to identify attacks from compromised accounts that have authorization to send emails.
To bridge this gap, Mail Protection Service assesses both the technical aspects and content of a message, providing a more thorough risk evaluation.
Utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP)
By employing NLP, MPS analyzes the language, tone, and intent of email messages to spot behaviors commonly linked to account takeover and fraudulent activities.
Some examples include:
- Unusual requests for immediate payments or wire transfers.
- Sudden changes in communication style.
- Requests for sensitive information or credentials.
- Language intended to create pressure, urgency, or secrecy.
- Messages that deviate significantly from the sender’s usual writing patterns.
By understanding the context of a message rather than just scanning for keywords, NLP helps in identifying sophisticated attacks that might slip through traditional filters.
Considering Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)
Alongside content analysis, MPS evaluates various technical indicators that could indicate a compromised account:
- Logins from unusual geographic locations.
- Improbable travel scenarios.
- New or suspicious forwarding rules.
- Unusual sending volumes or patterns.
- Changes to mailbox permissions.
- Communications with known malicious domains or IP addresses.
- Previous phishing or malware activities linked to the sender.
These indicators offer valuable evidence that an account may have been compromised by an attacker.
Integrating Content and Behavioral Intelligence
The true strength of Mail Protection Service lies in the fusion of NLP and IOC analysis. A message requesting an urgent payment may not raise suspicion on its own. However, if it’s sent from a mailbox that recently authenticated from an unusual location and established a new forwarding rule, the overall risk escalates significantly.
By correlating multiple signals, MPS can differentiate between legitimate business communication and potentially malicious activity with higher accuracy and fewer false alarms.
Swift Detection, Minimized Risk
Upon detecting suspicious behavior, Mail Protection Service can promptly notify security teams, apply warning banners, quarantine messages, or activate additional investigation processes. This empowers organizations to respond swiftly before attackers can inflict financial losses, data breaches, or harm to their reputation.
Conclusion
Email hijacking attacks are evolving continuously, rendering traditional security controls inadequate for modern businesses. By integrating Natural Language Processing, behavioral analytics, and technical Indicators of Compromise, Mail Protection Service delivers a robust layer of defense against account takeover and Business Email Compromise attacks. The outcome is enhanced detection speed, improved visibility, and stronger protection for users and business correspondence.
