Introduction

Hackers continuously find new ways to bypass traditional spam filters, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly in the crosshairs. By exploiting legitimate web pages and trusted mail servers, threat actors make spam appear more credible, posing significant challenges for IT teams. As these tactics evolve, SMES must stay informed and implement effective strategies to counter the risks (Talos Intelligence, 2024).

The Rise of Spam Through Web Form Exploitation

Spammers have begun targeting web forms—commonly used for account registrations, event sign-ups, and contact pages—to send unsolicited emails. By overloading text fields, attackers can trigger emails containing spam messages or malicious links to be sent back to users. This approach leverages the legitimate infrastructure of organizations, making the spam more likely to evade traditional filters and land in recipients' inboxes. For SMEs that rely on web forms for daily operations, this method creates a significant vulnerability (IT Brew, 2024).

Google Forms Abused for Spam Distribution

A crafty technique involves spammers exploiting Google Forms. They create quizzes and use stolen credentials to fill them out, then leverage Google’s "Release Scores" feature to send spam emails from Google's servers. Because these emails originate from a trusted source, they are less likely to be flagged by spam filters, increasing the likelihood of reaching the victim's inbox. This tactic not only enhances the chances of delivery but also undermines trust in cloud services like Google Forms (Talos Intelligence, 2024).

Credential Stuffing: Exploiting Breached Accounts

Credential stuffing attacks use breached login details to gain access to victims' email accounts. Once hackers gain entry, they can send spam directly from the compromised email server, making detection much more difficult. This tactic underscores the need for SMEs to prioritize strong, unique passwords and use password managers to secure accounts (IT Brew, 2024).

Recommendations for SMEs: Strengthening Email Security

With spam tactics becoming more sophisticated, SMEs should implement a multi-layered security approach to guard against evolving threats. Here are key strategies:

1. Educate Employees
   Regular training on recognizing phishing attempts and suspicious emails is essential. Employees should be encouraged to report any suspicious interactions, bolstering the organization’s overall security posture (Talos Intelligence, 2024).
   
   

2. Implement Strong Authentication
   Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security to email accounts, making it much harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access even if passwords are compromised (Cisco Blogs, 2024).
   
   

3. Conduct Regular Security Audits
   Routine audits of web forms and email systems can help identify and fix vulnerabilities that spammers might exploit. These audits should be thorough and include software updates to stay protected against the latest threats (Cisco Blogs, 2024).
   
   

4. Use Advanced Spam Filters
   Traditional spam filters may not be enough to catch sophisticated spam tactics. SMEs should employ advanced spam filtering solutions that can adapt to new methods and detect spam from legitimate sources (Cisco Blogs, 2024).
   
   

Taking the Lead in Cybersecurity Preparedness

As threat actors refine their techniques, SMEs must proactively enhance their cybersecurity measures. By focusing on employee education, implementing robust authentication practices, conducting regular security checks, and using advanced filtering, businesses can significantly reduce the risks associated with spam.

Don’t wait for your business to become the next victim. Contact BARE today to learn how our cybersecurity solutions can help you stay ahead of evolving threats and safeguard your operations.

References

Cisco Blogs. (2024). The Role of Multi-Factor Authentication in Email Security.
IT Brew. (2024). Threat Actors Are Finding New Ways to Sneak Spam Past Filters.
Talos Intelligence. (2024). Spammers Exploit Web Forms to Send Spam.