News
COMMENT on White House email prankster by Hiwot Mendahun, cyber resilience expert at email security firm Mimecast
August 2017 by Hiwot Mendahun, cyber resilience expert at email security firm Mimecast
A self-described "email prankster" in the UK fooled a number of White House officials into thinking he was other officials, including an episode where he convinced the White House official tasked with cyber security that he was Jared Kushner and received that official’s private email address unsolicited. This entire turn of events proves that even those in the highest reaches of power are vulnerable to spear-phising where officials are duped by hackers, and expose government computers and systems to various cyber threats.
Global background links to the story:
https://twitter.com/SINON_REBORN
In line with this, please find below a comment from Hiwot Mendahun, cyber resilience expert at email security firm Mimecast on the potential threat of spear-phishing which often begins the process by falsely posing as a friend or associate before asking the victim to take further action.
Hiwot Mendahun, cyber resilience expert at email security firm Mimecast, commented:
“Email connects the world’s leaders, businesses and everyday individuals, whatever their status or intent yet was never designed with security in mind. This prank follows a rise in similar attacks asking for wire transfers or confidential data like HR records or tax information. Spear phishing and impersonation attacks are easy to launch with free email addresses or by registering lookalike domains. Mobile email users are particularly vulnerable. All organisations need to consider stamping external emails with simple warnings and conduct regular training to help employees recognise possible scams.”
