Hey there! Did you know that small businesses are at risk from malicious links in emails? In fact, one in every 323 emails contains a targeted malicious link, highlighting the need for advanced URL protection to defend against phishing and malware attacks.
It’s crucial to learn how to check if a link is safe, especially for those using cloud email platforms. Research shows that one in ten employees will click on a malicious link, leading to serious consequences like account compromise, data theft, financial loss, and more.
Including advanced link protection in your email security strategy is essential to block phishing and business email compromise (BEC) attacks. But how does this technology work?
No need to worry – we’ve got you covered! In just a few minutes, this article will demystify malicious URL protection and explain why it’s a crucial feature for safeguarding your email against emerging exploits.
Understanding URL Protect and Its Role in Email Security
Even though HTML emails allow users to hover over a link to see its destination, many of us don’t practice this security best practice. Malicious URL protection eliminates the risk of a harmful “wrong click” that could lead to credential submission or device compromise.
Using real-time URL protection is key to preventing credential theft and data breaches, forming a strong site security foundation.
Be Aware that URL Rewriting Can Provide a False Sense of Security
URL rewriting can actually make users more likely to click on malicious links. Many assume any ‘safe’ link is truly safe, but that’s not always the case. Additionally, URL rewriting can break DKIM, the digital signature that proves an email hasn’t been altered in transit.
While some email security solutions use URL rewriting to detect malicious links, this can give a false sense of security – potentially doing more harm than good. IT professionals may grasp URL rewriting, but many users might believe any ‘safe’ link is safe, increasing the risk of clicking on malicious links.
Guardian Digital’s malicious link service goes beyond traditional email filtering by actively scanning URLs and attachments for threats. The URL Protect service offers multi-layered detection and blocking of malicious URLs by comparing domains against blocklists and scanning websites in real-time to determine their safety.
With this feature, URLs are also checked for credential content to detect fraudulent phishing sites. If a link is unsafe, the email containing it is blocked from reaching the recipient.
Guardian Digital URL Protect conducts dynamic analysis of all files, extracting links from various file types and using machine learning for real-time analysis.
The image above shows a phishing email identified and quarantined by Guardian Digital EnGarde Cloud Email Security. The email contains a malicious link leading to a fraudulent website where the recipient could unknowingly enter their account credentials, falling victim to the scammers behind the scam.
Despite seeming legitimate, this email has ‘red flags’ like urgency in the subject line and body, a generic salutation, and signature, indicating its fraudulent nature.
Stats and Trends That You Should Be Aware Of
- Small businesses are increasingly targeted by phishing, with one in 323 emails to small companies containing a malicious link, emphasizing the need for effective URL protection.
- Guardian Digital has identified and blocked more phishing emails with malicious links in recent years than ever before.
- A survey by Osterman Research found that 64.3% of organizations expect phishing attacks to rise this year.
Why URL Defense Is More Important than Ever
Cybercriminals are targeting remote workers and cloud email users with sophisticated phishing, malware, and BEC campaigns using malicious URLs leading to fake login pages on fraudulent websites.
Recent phishing campaigns exploit trust in video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet to steal personal information. For example, a fraudulent Microsoft Teams email contains a malicious URL disguised as an account recovery link, which is actually malware.
The image above shows a fraudulent Microsoft Teams email blocked by Guardian Digital EnGarde Cloud Email Security. The malicious link would install malware on the victim’s device if clicked, highlighting the importance of malicious URL protection.
Still Have Questions?
Here are quick answers to common questions about securing your email with URL protection:
What is URL protection?
URL protection identifies and blocks malicious URLs before they harm users, playing a vital role in link protection strategies to prevent credential theft and malware downloads.
How can I tell if a link is malicious before clicking?
Hover over the link to preview its URL for suspicious elements. Use trusted link checker tools to scan URLs for hidden threats. Advanced link protection solutions like Guardian Digital EnGarde can automatically detect malicious links.
What should I look for in a URL protection service?
A good malicious link service offers dynamic analysis, real-time scanning, credential phishing detection, and malware blocking. Look for solutions that also scan PDFs for viruses and embedded malicious URLs, like Guardian Digital’s URL Protect.
Next Steps for Strengthening Your Email Security
Implement malicious URL protection as part of a comprehensive email security approach, regularly scanning attachments and links to detect malware threats before exposure.
We recommend selecting a multi-layered cloud email security solution that integrates seamlessly with your platform, providing extra defense. Look for real-time malicious URL protection to mitigate risks and safeguard cloud email accounts in this era of heightened vulnerability.
Protect your organization against phishing and malicious links. Schedule a free Email Risk Assessment with Guardian Digital to explore how URL protection can defend your cloud email in 2025.
