June 16, 2025
You set it. You forget it. And just like that, while you're packing for vacation, your inbox starts automatically sending:
"Hi there! I'm out of the office until [date]. For urgent matters, please contact [coworker's name and e-mail]."
Sounds harmless, right? Convenient, even.
But that's exactly what cybercriminals want to see.
Your auto-reply—the simple message designed to keep things organized—can actually provide valuable information for attackers looking for an easy way in.
Let's look closer. A typical out-of-office message might include:
- Your name and title
- Dates you're unavailable
- Alternate contacts with their e-mail addresses
- Internal team structures
- Even reasons for your absence ("I'm at a conference in Chicago...")
This gives cybercriminals two key advantages:
1. Timing: They know when you're away and less likely to catch suspicious activity.
2. Targeting: They know who to impersonate and who to target.
This sets the stage for a phishing or business email compromise (BEC) attack.
How The Scam Usually Plays Out
Step 1: Your auto-reply is sent.
Step 2: A hacker uses it to impersonate you or your listed alternate contact.
Step 3: They send an urgent email asking for a wire transfer, password, or sensitive info.
Step 4: Your coworker, surprised, assumes the request is legitimate.
Step 5: You return to find a large sum of money sent to a fake vendor.
This happens more often than you might expect, especially in businesses with frequent travelers.
If your company has employees who travel a lot—like executives or sales teams—and someone else handles communications for them, it creates an ideal opportunity for cybercriminals:
- The assistant handles emails from multiple people
- They are accustomed to processing payments and sensitive requests
- They work quickly, trusting the messages appear genuine
One well-crafted fake email can slip through, leading to costly fraud or security breaches.
How To Protect Your Business From Auto-Reply Exploits
The answer isn't to stop using out-of-office replies but to use them carefully and add protections. Here are some tips:
1. Keep It Vague
Avoid detailed information. Don't name who's covering for you unless absolutely necessary.
Example: "I'm currently out of the office and will reply when I return. For immediate help, please contact our main office at [main contact info]."
2. Train Your Team
Ensure everyone knows:
- Never act on urgent money or sensitive requests based solely on email
- Always verify unusual requests through a second method, like a phone call
3. Implement Email Security Tools
Use advanced filters, anti-spoofing, and domain protection to reduce impersonation risks.
4. Use MFA Everywhere
Enable multifactor authentication on all email accounts. Even if passwords are compromised, hackers can't gain access easily.
5. Work With An IT Partner Who Monitors Activity
A proactive IT and cybersecurity partner can spot unusual logins, phishing attempts, and suspicious behavior before damage occurs.
Want To Vacation Without Becoming A Hacker's Next Target?
We help businesses build cybersecurity systems that keep you safe—even when your team is out of office.
Click Here Or Give Us A Call At 954-327-1001 To Book A
FREE Consult.
We'll
check your systems for vulnerabilities and show you how to lock down the risks,
so you can actually enjoy that vacation without worrying about your inbox
betraying you.
