You’re packing for a well-earned summer getaway. You set your out-of-office message:
“Hi there! I’m out of the office until [date]. For urgent matters, please contact [coworker’s name and email].”
Seems harmless, right?
Not so fast.
For cybercriminals, that simple auto-reply is a gold mine — especially for professional service firms in Chicagoland where client communication, financial transactions, and sensitive data flow daily.
What Hackers See in Your Out Of Office Message
A typical out-of-office reply can reveal:
- Your name and title
- When you’ll be unavailable
- Who to contact in your absence (with their email)
- Internal team structure
- Even where you’re going (“I’m attending a conference in Chicago…”)
This gives cybercriminals two major advantages:
- Timing – They know you’re offline and less likely to catch suspicious activity.
- Targeting – They know exactly who to impersonate and who to trick.
That’s the perfect setup for a phishing or business email compromise (BEC) attack.
How the Scam Plays Out
- Your auto-reply goes out.
- A hacker impersonates you or your backup contact.
- They send an “urgent” email requesting a wire transfer, password, or sensitive document.
- Your coworker, caught off guard, complies.
- You return to find out someone sent $45,000 to a fake vendor.
This happens more often than you think — especially in firms where executives or sales teams travel frequently and assistants or office managers handle communications.
Why Chicagoland Firms Are Prime Targets
If your business:
- Has team members who travel often
- Delegates financial or sensitive tasks to support staff
- Moves fast to serve clients
…then you’re exactly the kind of operation hackers love to target.
How to Protect Your Business from Out Of Office Exploits
You don’t need to ditch out-of-office replies — just use them wisely and back them up with smart cybersecurity practices.
✅ Keep It Vague
Avoid sharing too much. Don’t list specific names unless absolutely necessary.
Better:
“I’m currently out of the office and will respond upon my return. For immediate assistance, please contact our main office at [main contact info].”
✅ Train Your Team
Make sure your staff knows:
- Never act on urgent requests involving money or sensitive info based on email alone.
- Always verify unusual requests via a second channel (like a phone call).
✅ Use Email Security Tools
Implement:
- Advanced spam filters
- Anti-spoofing protocols
- Domain protection tools
✅ Enable MFA Everywhere
Multifactor authentication (MFA) should be standard across all email accounts. It’s one of the simplest ways to block unauthorized access.
✅ Partner with a Proactive IT Team
A local IT partner who monitors your systems can detect suspicious activity — even while you’re on the beach.
Want to Vacation Without Worry?
We help Chicagoland businesses lock down their systems so they can truly unplug — without their inbox becoming a hacker’s playground.
👉 Click here to book your FREE Security Assessment
We’ll review your current setup, identify vulnerabilities, and show you how to protect your business — even when your team is out of office.
