What is account takeover (ATO)?
Account takeover (ATO) is when a hacker successfully takes ownership of one or multiple online accounts. This form of fraud is often carried out by the hacker using stolen login credentials to gain access. There are a number of ways hackers can gain access to login credentials. They might initiate a brute force attack that churns through a multitude of password combinations in hopes of cracking the code. Hackers will also carry out phishing or spear phishing attacks to attempt to fool an individual into handing over their login credentials. Botnets are also used by hackers to carry out high-volume login attempts using common usernames and passwords without being detected.
Email security refers to the standards, best practices, and technologies used to protect personal and corporate email accounts and communications. While consumers typically rely on Internet service providers to provide their email security, small-to-midsized businesses and enterprises typically manage it in-house.
Email has been a popular target for cybercriminals since its inception due to the relative ease of creating and launching email attacks. As the popularity of email increased, so too have attacks. Today, email is the #1 attack vector, making email protection critical to the health, reputations, and futures of businesses and organizations.