Despite the growth and prominence of mobile messengers and chat apps, e-mail is an integral part of daily online life, making it one of the most important communication platforms in the digital age.
In 2022, the number of global e-mail users amounted to 4.26 billion. This number is set to grow to 4.73 billion users in 2026. Furthermore, 121 business-related emails are received each day by the average person in 2024. Statistics shows that the number of people using email is expected to reach 4.48 billion in 2024.
Most online login forms, digital portals, e-retailers, and mobile applications require users to provide an email address as a primary identifier. While it may seem harmless to share this information, it is important to understand that an email address is a critical piece of data for cybercriminals. Hackers often need just a person's email address and digital account passwords to gain unauthorized access to various online accounts.
Experts emphasize that an email address serves as a crucial starting point for cybercriminals to launch their attacks. Once they obtain an email address, they can attempt to breach associated accounts using techniques like phishing, social engineering, or brute force attacks. With access to the email account itself, hackers can reset passwords, gain control of other linked accounts, and potentially steal sensitive information.
As the number of email users grows, safeguarding email addresses and associated passwords becomes an essential aspect of online security.
