June 13, 2025
You set it. You forget it. Then, 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—is actually a treasure trove of information for hackers looking for an easy entry point.
Let's break it down. 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 you're away and less likely to spot suspicious activity.
2. Targeting: They know who to impersonate and who to target with scams.
This sets the stage for a perfect phishing or business e-mail compromise (BEC) attack.
How The Scam Usually Plays Out
Step 1: Your auto-reply message goes out.
Step 2: A hacker uses it to impersonate you or the contact you listed.
Step 3: They send an "urgent" e-mail asking for a wire transfer, password, or sensitive document.
Step 4: Your coworker, caught off guard, believes it's legitimate.
Step 5: You return from vacation to discover a large sum, like $45,000, sent to a fake vendor.
This happens more often than you might think, especially in businesses with frequent travelers.
If your company has staff who travel regularly—executives or sales teams—and someone else manages communications while they're away (like a personal assistant or office admin), the risk increases:
- The admin handles emails from multiple people
- They are accustomed to processing payments, documents, or sensitive requests
- They work quickly, trusting the people they believe they're corresponding with
One well-crafted fake e-mail can bypass safeguards, leading to costly breaches or fraud.
How To Protect Your Business From Auto-Reply Exploits
The answer isn't to eliminate out-of-office replies but to use them carefully and implement protections. Consider these tips:
1. Keep It Vague
Avoid detailed itineraries. Don't name who's covering for you unless absolutely necessary.
Example: "I'm currently out of the office and will respond when I return. For immediate assistance, please contact our main office at [main contact info]."
2. Train Your Team
Ensure employees:
- Never act on urgent money or sensitive requests based on email alone
- Always verify unusual requests through a second channel, like a phone call
3. Implement E-mail Security Tools
Use advanced filters, anti-spoofing technologies, and domain protection to reduce impersonation risks.
4. Use MFA Everywhere
Enable multifactor authentication on all email accounts. Even if passwords are compromised, this blocks unauthorized access.
5. Work With An IT Partner Who Monitors Activity
A proactive IT and cybersecurity provider can spot suspicious login attempts, phishing, and unusual behavior before harm occurs.
Want To Vacation Without Becoming A Hacker's Next Target?
We help businesses build cybersecurity systems that keep working—even when your team is out of the office.
Click Here Or Give Us A Call At 702-605-9998 To Book A FREE Initial Consultation.
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.
