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 meant to keep things organized and running smoothly—is actually a treasure trove of information for bad actors 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 you're away and less likely to spot suspicious activity.
2. Targeting: They know exactly 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 is sent.
Step 2: A hacker uses it to impersonate you or the alternate 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, assumes the request is legitimate.
Step 5: You return from vacation to find someone sent $45,000 to "a vendor."
This happens more often than you might expect, and it's especially risky for businesses with frequent travelers.
If your company has staff who travel regularly—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 cybercriminals:
- The admin is managing emails from multiple people
- They're accustomed to handling payments, documents, or sensitive requests
- They're working quickly and trusting the senders they believe they know
One well-crafted fake email 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 altogether—it's to use them carefully and add safeguards. Here are some tips:
1. Keep It Vague
Avoid detailed itineraries. Don't list 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 everyone knows:
- Never act on urgent money or sensitive info requests based on email alone
- Always verify unusual requests through a second channel (like a phone call)
3. Implement Email Security Tools
Use advanced filters, anti-spoofing measures, and domain protection to reduce impersonation attacks reaching your inbox.
4. Use MFA Everywhere
Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) on all email accounts. Even if a password is stolen, MFA blocks 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 working—even when your team is out of office.
Click Here Or Give Us A Call At 907-865-3100 To Book A
FREE 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.
