Your Vacation Auto-Reply Might Be A Hacker’s Favorite E-mail

You set it. You forget it. And just like that, while you’re packing for vacation, your inbox starts automatically broadcasting:

“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.

Except… that’s exactly what cybercriminals love to see.

Your auto-reply – the simple message meant to keep things organized and moving smoothly – is also a gold mine of intel for bad actors looking for an easy way in.

Why Auto-Replies Are a Gold Mine for Hackers

A typical out-of-office (OOO) message might include:

• Your name and title
• Dates you’re unavailable
• Alternate contacts (with their e-mail addresses)
• Internal team structures
• Even details about your location (“I’m at a conference in Chicago…”)

This gives cybercriminals two major advantages:

1. Timing: They know you’re unavailable and less likely to notice suspicious activity.
2. Targeting: They know exactly who to impersonate – and who to target with a scam.

That’s the foundation for a perfect phishing or business email compromise (BEC) attack.

How the Scam Plays Out

1. Your auto-reply is sent to a bad actor.
2. They impersonate you or the contact you listed.
3. An urgent email goes out requesting a wire transfer, password, or sensitive file.
4. Your coworker, caught off guard, assumes it’s legit.
5. You return from vacation to discover the business sent money to a scammer.

This is especially risky in companies with frequent travel or staff who delegate emails to admins or assistants.

How To Protect Your Business From Auto-Reply Exploits

Here’s how to use OOO replies more securely:

1. Keep It Vague

Avoid listing names, locations, or alternate contact details unless absolutely necessary.

Example: “I’m currently out of the office and will respond when I return. For immediate help, contact our main office.”

2. Train Your Team

Employees should be trained to:

• Never act on urgent financial or sensitive requests by email alone
• Always verify unusual requests with a phone call or secondary method

3. Use Email Security Tools

Implement:

• Anti-spoofing protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
• Advanced threat detection and phishing filters

4. Require MFA

Multifactor authentication adds a critical layer of defense, even if a password is stolen.

5. Partner with a Proactive IT Provider

An expert IT team can:

• Monitor for unusual behavior
• Flag suspicious logins
• Provide real-time alerts before damage occurs

Want To Vacation Without Becoming a Hacker’s Next Target?

At CNS, we help firms lock down their inboxes and prepare their people with smart cybersecurity tools and training.

Click here to book a FREE security assessment.

We’ll identify vulnerabilities in your email setup and show you how to fix them – so you can actually enjoy your vacation without worrying about what your inbox is doing behind your back.