Email hacking

Email hacking is the unauthorized access to, or manipulation of, an account or email correspondence.^[1][2]

Overview

Email is a very widely used communication method. If an email account is hacked, it can allow the attacker access to the personal, sensitive or confidential information in the mail storage; as well as allowing them to read new incoming and outgoing email - and to send and receive as the legitimate owner. On some email platforms, it may also allow them to set up automated email processing rules. All of these could be very harmful for the legitimate user.

Attacks

There are a number of ways in which a

Virus

A virus or other malware can be sent via email, and if executed may be able to capture the user's password and send it to an attacker.^[3]

Phishing

Phishing involves emails that appear to be from legitimate sender but are

Although companies may secure its internal networks, vulnerabilities can also occur through home networking.[6] Email may be protected by methods, such as, creating a strong password, encrypting its contents,^[7] or using a digital signature.

If passwords are leaked or otherwise become known to an attacker, having

Cases of email hacking

Notable cases of email hacks include:

• Email archives from the Climatic Research Unit were leaked to create the scandal popularly known as Climategate.^[8]
• News of the World journalists hacked email accounts for their stories.^[9]
• UK politician Rowenna Davis had her mail account taken over and held ransom.^[10]
• US politician Sarah Palin has been hacked in order to find embarrassing or incriminating correspondence.^[11]
• As part of the
  Sony Pictures hack, over 170,000 pieces of email between top executives ended up on Wikileaks.^[12]
• Former United States president, George H.W. Bush had his email hacked.^[13]
• The personal email of political consultant John Podesta was hacked, and contents later published by WikiLeaks.^[14][15]

References