{
  "content": "Search Free Trial Get Demo Using AI to protect against BEC attacks November 3, 2022 With no payload to detect, how best can organizations protect themselves from Business Email Compromise and other social engineering attacks? by John Stevenson Sometimes the simplest frauds are the most successful. Some years ago, local authorities in the UK were targeted by a series of just such frauds. The modus operandi of the criminals was to masquerade as legitimate suppliers of building maintenance services and contact local authority finance departments, requesting their regular payments be made to new bank accounts. The tools of the trade? Letterheads and faxes. Roll the clock forward. Now, cybercriminals are using similarly simple techniques to conduct social engineering attacks against organizations with equally successful results as the latest report from Osterman  Phishing, BEC and Ransomware Threats for Microsoft 365 Users  clearly shows. Social engineering From Business Email Compromise BEC and Email Account Compromise EAC to Account Takeover ATO attacks, experts calculate as much as 91 of all cyberattacks start with a social engineering emails Deloitte 2020. Despite best efforts, these attacks keep on getting past traditional email security defenses and into users inboxes. Managing the problem is time-consuming, costly and a waste of valuable technical expertise. So how do you stop these attacks? Protect the Inbox For over 25 years the cybersecurity industry has focused on trying to protect email users by defending the network perimeter with a Secure Email Gateway SEG but evasive social engineering attacks have always found their way past these defenses. For more information on the short-comings of perimeter email security, read our threat intelligence report,  Beyond the Email Perimeter  Now Microsoft Office 365 email is used by the majority of organizations and though the security it offers is excellent, social engineering attacks continue to evade the native security controls and arrive in the inbox. To prevent these attacks from being successful, organizations need to employ an Integrated Cloud Email Security ICES solution that works in the inbox itself, automatically detecting and remediating attacks. Stop BEC, EAC, ATO, and attacks with no payload Often, social engineering attacks have a payload  for example a phishing URL or a malware-infected attachment such as one containing ransomware. The latter tend to make the headlines when they succeed, but these attacks can be automatically detected and remediated in the inbox by the ICES if it is powered by real-time analysis and the very latest threat intelligence. But what if the attack has been carefully crafted so it doesnt contain a payload? Business Email Compromise BEC, Email Account Compromise EAC and other social engineering email attacks dont have an obvious payload. Instead, they rely on techniques of trickery and impersonation to succeed. To combat them, look for an ICES that employs the very latest Artificial Intelligence AI techniques like Machine Learning ML and Natural Language Processing NLP detect and neutralize the attacks. An ICES which uses these techniques to analyze each message as it arrives in the inbox will stop this type of social engineering attack. Cyren uses AI to stop evasive attacks Cyren Inbox Security is an ICES that protects organizations from social engineering attacks like BEC, EAC, ATO, and imposter fraud, by working inside the inbox to find and automatically remediate messages irrespective of whether they have an obvious payload. It does this using a combination of machine learning, natural language processing, and heuristics to combat the threat. In my next blog, well look at how Cyren Inbox Security uses these techniques to examine the forensic evidence in social engineering attacks and automatically remediates them from the inbox. Try it for Free Instant Data Classification Cyren URL Category Chacker Prev What is Microsoft Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection? Analyzing message metadata to protect against BEC attacks Next Company Partners Resources Investor Relations Products Freeware Demo Solutions Contact Us Privacy Management Service by Data443",
  "analysis_results": {
    "metadata": {
      "timestamp": "2025-02-05T23:31:47.607054",
      "model": "deepseek/deepseek-r1-distill-llama-70b",
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    "analyses": {
      "comprehensive": "**Comprehensive Analysis of Cyren Inbox Security Content**\n\n1. **Key Security Features and Benefits:**\n   - **AI-Powered Detection:** Utilizes Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to detect BEC attacks without payloads, enhancing protection against sophisticated threats.\n   - **Automated Remediation:** Reduces risks associated with human error by automatically remediating detected threats.\n   - **Integration with Microsoft Office 365:** Seamlessly works within widely used email systems, offering real-time threat analysis and mitigation.\n\n2. **Compliance and Regulatory Adherence:**\n   - The content lacks specific compliance certifications, such as ISO 27001 or GDPR, which are crucial for assured adherence to industry standards. Including such information would strengthen trust, especially in regulated sectors.\n\n3. **User-Focused Security Recommendations:**\n   - **Employee Education:** Regular training to identify signs of BEC, such as urgent requests or email spoofing.\n   - **Email Protocol Implementation:** Advising the use of DMARC, DKIM, and SPF to enhance email security.\n   - **Security Audits and Incident Response:** Emphasizing the importance of these measures to mitigate and respond to threats effectively.\n\n4. **Technical Implementation Details:**\n   - **Integration and Functionality:** The solution's integration with Office 365 and use of AI models for real-time analysis are strong points. However, details on AI training, data privacy, and integration with other tools are needed.\n   - **Heuristics and Metadata Analysis:** Provides an additional layer of threat detection by analyzing behavioral patterns.\n\n5. **Data Protection Measures:**\n   - **Privacy and Encryption:** The need for encryption during transmission and at rest, along with data anonymization, should be highlighted.\n   - **Data Usage Transparency:** Clarifying how incident data is used to improve AI models without compromising user confidentiality is essential.\n\n6. **Best Practices for End Users:**\n   - **Verification and Reporting:** Encourage users to verify suspicious emails and report them to IT.\n   - **Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):** Recommend its use to add an extra layer of security.\n   - **Security Awareness Training:** Regular training can significantly reduce the success of BEC attacks by educating users on safe practices.\n\n**Conclusion:**\nThe content effectively highlights the problem of BEC attacks and presents Cyren Inbox Security as a robust solution. However, it could be enhanced by including compliance certifications, detailed data protection measures, and expanded user-focused recommendations to provide a more comprehensive overview.",
      "product": "### Analysis of Product Security Features\n\n1. **Key Security Features and Capabilities:**\n   - **Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP):** These technologies enable the product to detect and neutralize BEC attacks by analyzing email content for signs of deception or impersonation, even without a payload.\n   - **Integrated Cloud Email Security (ICES):** Works within the inbox to identify and remove threats automatically, ensuring protection beyond traditional email gateways.\n\n2. **User Benefits and Protection Measures:**\n   - **Reduced Threats:** Automates the detection of BEC, phishing, and other social engineering attacks, minimizing the risk of successful breaches.\n   - **Increased Efficiency:** Reduces the burden on IT teams by handling threat detection and remediation, allowing them to focus on other tasks.\n\n3. **Integration with Existing Security Systems:**\n   - **Compatibility:** Designed to integrate with platforms like Microsoft Office 365, enhancing security without disrupting existing workflows. It may also work with other major email providers, though specifics should be confirmed.\n\n4. **Compliance and Certification Details:**\n   - **Recommendation:** While the product offers robust security, organizations should consult with the provider to ensure compliance with specific industry regulations and standards.\n\n5. **Security Best Practices for Users:**\n   - **User Education:** Regular training for employees on recognizing phishing attempts and suspicious emails is essential, even with advanced AI protection.\n   - **Vigilance:** Encourage users to be cautious with emails, especially those requesting sensitive information or actions.\n\n6. **Technical Specifications and Requirements:**\n   - **Deployment:** Likely a cloud-based, SaaS solution, compatible with major browsers and operating systems. Specific requirements should be detailed by the provider.\n\nThis product offers a comprehensive approach to email security, leveraging advanced technologies to protect against evolving threats while integrating smoothly with existing systems.",
      "user_guidance": "### Security Guidance to Protect Against BEC and Social Engineering Attacks\n\nGiven the evolving nature of cyber threats, especially Business Email Compromise (BEC) and other social engineering attacks, it\u2019s crucial to adopt a multi-layered approach to security. Below are practical, easy-to-follow recommendations to help protect your organization and data:\n\n---\n\n### **1. Security Best Practices**\n- **Verify Sender Identity**: Always question unusual emails, especially those asking for sensitive information or financial transactions. Pick up the phone to verify the request with the sender using a known, trusted contact method.\n- **Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)**: Enable MFA for all email and cloud service accounts to add an extra layer of security.\n- **Be Cautious with Links and Attachments**: Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from untrusted sources. Hover over links to check their destination before clicking.\n- **ImplementStrict Payment Processes**: Require multiple approvals for wire transfers or changes to vendor payment details. Ensure that any payment changes are confirmed through a separate communication channel.\n- **Regularly Update Software**: Keep email clients, browsers, and security tools up to date to protect against vulnerabilities.\n\n---\n\n### **2. Data Protection Recommendations**\n- **Backup Critical Data**: Regularly back up sensitive data to a secure, off-site location to protect against data loss in case of an attack.\n- **Classify Sensitive Information**: Use data classification tools to identify and protect sensitive data, such as financial records or personal information.\n- **Encrypt Sensitive Emails**: Use encryption for emails containing confidential information, such as payment details or personal data.\n- **Limit Access to Sensitive Data**: Restrict access to sensitive information to only those who need it for their work.\n\n---\n\n### **3. Safe Usage Guidelines**\n- **Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi for Sensitive Tasks**: Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured and can expose your data to interception. Avoid accessing sensitive accounts or conducting financial transactions over public Wi-Fi.\n- **Educate Employees**: Provide regular training on recognizing and reporting phishing, BEC, and other social engineering attacks.\n- **Monitor Email Accounts**: Encourage employees to monitor their email accounts for unusual activity and report any suspicious emails to IT or security teams immediately.\n\n---\n\n### **4. Common Security Risks and Prevention**\n- **Phishing and BEC Attacks**: These attacks often impersonate trusted individuals or organizations to trick users into revealing sensitive information or transferring money. Prevention includes email filtering tools, employee training, and strict verification processes.\n- **Email Account Compromise (EAC)**: Attackers gain access to email accounts to steal information or launch further attacks. Prevention includes strong passwords, MFA, and monitoring for unusual account activity.\n- **Imcerer Fraud**: Attackers impersonate executives or vendors to request urgent payments. Prevention includes verification protocols and education on identifying suspicious requests.\n\n---\n\n### **5. Privacy Protection Measures**\n- **Use Privacy Tools**: Enable privacy features in email clients, such as blocking external images or tracking pixels, to reduce the risk of email-based surveillance.\n- ** Avoid Posting Sensitive Information Online**: Refrain from sharing sensitive business or personal information on public platforms.\n- **Secure Devices**: Protect laptops, phones, and tablets with strong passwords, encryption, and remote wipe capabilities in case of theft or loss.\n\n---\n\n### **6. When to Seek Additional Security Support**\n- If your organization lacks the expertise or resources to implement advanced security measures, consider hiring a cybersecurity consultant or outsourcing to a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP).\n- If you suspect or experience a security incident, contact your IT team or a cybersecurity professional immediately to investigate and contain the threat.\n- Regularly review your security posture and conduct risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and improve defenses.\n\n---\n\nBy combining advanced AI-powered tools like Integrated Cloud Email Security (ICES), employee training, and strict security protocols, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to BEC and other social engineering attacks. Stay vigilant and proactive in protecting your inbox and sensitive data."
    }
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