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Secure Document Sharing: Protecting Confidential Email Attachments

In today’s fast-paced business world, sharing important and confidential documents through email attachments has become a common practice. But with the growing risk of cyber threats and data breaches, it’s more crucial than ever to ensure that the documents being shared are properly protected. This article explores various methods of secure document sharing and highlights the benefits of using invisible marking to protect against unauthorized leaks.

Why is Secure Document Sharing Important?

Sharing sensitive information such as financial reports, business plans, and personal details through email attachments is a convenient way to communicate and exchange information. However, these attachments are vulnerable to insider and cyber threats such as hacking, phishing, and malware attacks, which can compromise the confidentiality of the information being shared. In addition, the unauthorized sharing of confidential information can result in significant legal, financial, and reputational consequences for organizations and individuals alike.
 

Examples of Email Attachment Leaks

-Accidental Leaks: Accidental leaks occur when an email attachment containing sensitive information is sent to the wrong recipient. This can happen due to human error, such as mistyping an email address or sending an attachment to the wrong recipient in a group email.

-Malicious Leaks: Malicious leaks occur when a person intentionally shares confidential information with unauthorized parties. This can occur for personal gain, such as selling confidential information to competitors, or to cause harm to the organization or individual.

-Hacking: Hacking is another common cause of email attachment leaks. Hackers can gain access to sensitive information through the exploitation of vulnerabilities in the email system or by using phishing scams to trick individuals into revealing login credentials.

-Insider ThreatsInsider threats refer to individuals within an organization who have access to sensitive information and choose to share it with unauthorized parties. This can occur for various reasons, such as dissatisfaction with the organization or personal gain.

Here are a few real-life examples:

-The 2014 Sony Pictures hack: In 2014, hackers stole and leaked sensitive information from Sony Pictures, including confidential emails and personal information of employees. This leak was caused by a phishing scam that allowed hackers to gain access to Sony’s email system.

-The 2016 Democratic National Committee email leak: During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, thousands of emails from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) were leaked to the public. The emails contained sensitive information about the DNC’s internal operations and political strategies.

-The 2019 Capital One data breach: In 2019, a former software engineer was charged with hacking into Capital One’s systems and stealing the personal information of over 100 million people. The information was allegedly shared through email attachments.

Methods of Secure Document Sharing

LeaksID is a cutting-edge solution that integrates with mail servers to automatically add invisible anti-leak marks to all sent attachments. The marks are indistinguishable from the original document and are invisible to the recipient, ensuring that the confidentiality of the information being shared is maintained. Furthermore, each recipient will receive their own copy of the marked document, allowing organizations to keep track of who has access to the information. In the event of a leak, LeaksID’s advanced investigation module makes it easy to identify the source even using a small fragment of the compromised email attachment and deter future breaches. 

LeaksID and Invisible Marking

-Encryption: Encryption is the process of converting plaintext into an unreadable format, known as ciphertext, to protect against unauthorized access. This can be achieved through the use of encryption software or services that can be applied to an entire email message or specific attachments.

-Passwords: Password protection is a simple method of securing document attachments. The recipient is required to enter a password to access the document, making it more difficult for unauthorized users to access the information.

-Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN): A VPN creates a secure connection between your device and the internet, encrypting all data transmitted between the two. By using a VPN, you can ensure that the information contained in your email attachments is protected from unauthorized access, even when you’re using public Wi-Fi.

-Avoiding Sensitive Information in the Subject Line and Body of the Email: When sending sensitive information via email, it’s essential to keep the subject line and body of the email as vague as possible. Avoid using sensitive information in the subject line, as this can make the email a target for cyber criminals. Additionally, avoid including sensitive information in the body of the email, as it can be intercepted or read by unauthorized individuals.

-Digital Rights Management (DRM): DRM is a technology that restricts the use and distribution of digital content. DRM systems can control who can access, view, and print a document, providing an added layer of security for sensitive information.

-Invisible Marking: Invisible marking is a relatively new method of secure document sharing that involves the addition of an invisible labels (anti-leak marks) to the document. The labels make the document unique and personalized but indistinguishable from the original one and can contain information such as the document’s origin, date of creation, and intended recipient. In the event of a leak, the labels can be used to identify the source of the breach, making it easier to track down the responsible party.

LeaksID Interface

LeaksID offers flexibility and customization for secure document sharing through email attachments. You can easily set rules to determine which attachments will be marked and which will not, as well as choose to mark attachments based on the sender or recipient. This versatility allows for easy integration into your existing system, tailored specifically to your unique needs and requirements. 

Conclusion

The sharing of confidential information through email attachments is an essential part of modern business communication, but it also presents significant risks to the security and privacy of the information being shared. By using encryption, passwords, DRM, and/or invisible marking, organizations and individuals can better protect their sensitive information and minimize the risk of unauthorized leaks. LeaksID is a powerful tool that can help organizations to achieve this goal by automatically adding invisible anti-leak marks to all sent attachments, making it easier to determine the source of any breaches and deter future incidents. 

The post Secure Document Sharing: Protecting Confidential Email Attachments appeared first on LeaksID.

The post Secure Document Sharing: Protecting Confidential Email Attachments appeared first on LeaksID.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from LeaksID authored by LeaksID. Read the original post at: https://leaksid.com/protect-email-attachments/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=protect-email-attachments