How Hackers Monetize Email Access and How to Protect Your Business

Cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to infiltrate corporate data and systems. But what happens after they gain access? One of the most lucrative methods hackers use to profit from their breaches is by exploiting email services—leading to staggering financial losses. In fact, a recent report highlights how a hacker group leveraged compromised email accounts to steal $1.7 billion.

How Hackers Gain Access and Monetize Email Infiltration

Threat actors typically gain access to an email network through social engineering—a technique where they manipulate employees into providing login credentials or access to sensitive areas. Once inside, hackers observe internal communication patterns, learning how to impersonate legitimate employees convincingly.

At this stage, cybercriminals can initiate fraudulent transactions by redirecting payments to their own bank accounts. This method, known as business email compromise (BEC), remains one of the most financially devastating cyber threats today.

FBI Warning: Email Forwarding Exploits

The FBI recently issued a warning about hackers using email forwarding rules to evade detection:

“The web-based client’s forwarding rules often do not sync with the desktop client, limiting the rules’ visibility to cybersecurity administrators. While IT personnel traditionally implement auto-alerts through security monitoring appliances to alert when rule updates appear on their networks, such alerts can miss updates on remote workstations using web-based email.”

This means that without proper security measures, hackers can create hidden forwarding rules that allow them to monitor and manipulate business transactions undetected.

The Costliest Cyber Attack—And How to Prevent It

Although only 7% of spear-phishing attacks use this technique, it is highly effective—causing nearly $2 billion in losses over the past two years. However, businesses can prevent these attacks by implementing strong cybersecurity practices.

Steps to Protect Your Business from Email-Based Cyber Threats

1. Ensure Email Synchronization & Updates: Make sure your mobile and desktop email applications synchronize properly and are updated with the latest security patches.
2. Monitor Email Forwarding Rules: Set up alerts to flag emails where the sender’s address and reply-to address do not match.
3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access.

Protect Your Business with Expert Support

Cyber threats are evolving, but proactive security measures can keep your business safe. If you need help securing your email systems, or if you’re looking for advanced IT solutions, contact our team at info@optfinity.com. Let’s safeguard your business against costly cyber attacks.