Do you know the value of your email account? How about the value of accounts that may be associated with your Drake email or personal email address, as seen in this graphic (courtesy of Krebs on Security)?

Nearly all online services require an email address to create an account, and with that email address, someone can reset any password for associated services or accounts.

There isn’t a central exchange for compromised accounts in the criminal world, but price lists are posted from time to time, and offer some insights. For criminals, iTunes accounts can be worth up to $8, FedEx and airlines up to $6, Groupon fetches $5, and wireless providers such as AT&T and Verizon go for around $4. Facebook and Twitter retail for only $2.50 each. Online shopping retailers such as Walmart, Best Buy, and Target go for $1 to $3 each.

These prices pale in comparison to the value of the data within our accounts. Correspondence with colleagues, financial, health, and student information all carry great value. When this information is exposed, Drake faces financial theft, regulatory fines, reputation loss, and greater scrutiny.

Know the characteristics of phishing to defeat attackers and keep everyone’s information protected. Slow down and look carefully for red flags that give away an email’s intent before acting. Suspicious emails can be reported here.

—Peter Lundstedt, ITS