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 be a treasure trove of information for hackers looking for an easy way in.
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 details about why you're gone ("I'm at a conference in Chicago...")
This gives cybercriminals two big advantages:
1. Timing: They know when you're away and less likely to spot suspicious activity.
2. Targeting: They know who to impersonate and who to target with scams.
That's the perfect setup for a phishing or business e-mail 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 the alternate contact.
Step 3: They send an "urgent" e-mail requesting a wire transfer, password, or sensitive document.
Step 4: Your coworker, caught off guard, assumes it's legitimate.
Step 5: You return from vacation to find out someone sent $45,000 to "a vendor."
This happens more often than you might think and is especially risky for businesses with frequent travelers.
If your company has employees who travel often, especially executives or sales teams, and someone else handles communications while they're away (like a personal assistant or office admin), this creates ideal conditions for hackers:
- The admin manages e-mails from multiple people
- They're used to handling payments, documents, or sensitive requests
- They work quickly and trust the people they believe they're hearing from
One well-crafted fake e-mail can slip through, leading to costly breaches or fraud incidents.
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 safeguards. Here are some 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 to your message when I return. For immediate assistance, please contact our main office at [main contact info]."
2. Train Your Team
Make sure your staff knows:
- Never act on urgent requests involving money or sensitive info based on e-mail alone
- Always verify unusual requests through a second channel (like a phone call)
3. Implement E-mail Security Tools
Use advanced e-mail filters, anti-spoofing measures, and domain protection to reduce impersonation risks.
4. Use MFA Everywhere
Enable multifactor authentication on all e-mail accounts. Even if a password is stolen, this prevents unauthorized access.
5. Work With An IT Partner Who Monitors Activity
A proactive IT and cybersecurity partner can spot login attempts, phishing attacks, and unusual 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 404-719-5222 To Book A
FREE 15-Minute Discovery Call.
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.
