Time-of-Click Protection – with the URL Safeguard in NoSpamProxy
One of the most dangerous tactics used in cyberattacks is to send initially harmless links in emails that only lead to phishing sites or malware after they have been received. Traditional spam filters and virus scanners quickly reach their limits here, as they only check emails once when they are received. But what happens if the link later becomes dangerous? This is exactly where Time-of-Click Protection (ToC Protection) comes in. This modern security technology protects users not only when they receive the email, but at the exact moment they click on the link, regardless of when the email was delivered. Time-of-Click Protection thus offers dynamic, intelligent protection against threats that did not exist at the time of receipt. In this article, we show how Time-of-Click Protection works, why it is indispensable for companies, and how it is integrated into URL Safeguard in NoSpamProxy.
What is time-of-click protection?
Time-of-click protection (also known as click-time protection or real-time link protection) is a security feature specifically designed to detect and block threats in emails that occur later or are delayed, at the exact moment a user clicks on a link. In some contexts, this approach is also referred to as post-delivery protection.
In many cases, criminals send emails with links that are harmless or lead to genuine, harmless websites. Only after the message has been sent is the linked page manipulated and converted into a phishing page or a page with embedded malware, for example.
Traditional email security software only checks such links when the message is received. If the page is changed later, the recipient falls into the trap when they click on the link at a later point in time.
The solution is to recheck links in emails every time they are clicked – i.e., dynamically. Time-of-Click Protection therefore checks not just once, but repeatedly and can thus always apply the latest knowledge about threats to its analysis. This makes it particularly effective against attacks that would otherwise slip through traditional filters unnoticed.
How does Time-of-Click Protection work?
Time-of-Click Protection is a multiple-level system.
Email with links rewritten (protected) by URL Safeguard. The host names of the link targets are displayed directly.
What are the advantages of time-of-click protection?
Time-of-click protection is indispensable today because modern threats are constantly changing, even after the email has been received. As a result, time-of-click protection not only provides technical added value, but also protects employees’ daily work and significantly reduces the risk for companies.
The focus on threats that can arise after the email has been received makes it an important addition to existing security measures such as antivirus programs and firewalls.
It also minimizes the possibility of damage caused by human error, such as accidentally clicking on a link to a fake login page.
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