Email

More LinkedIn Security Risks with LinkedIn Intro

Posted on by Adam Fowler

LinkedIn have just announced a new way they’ve engineered LinkedIn user information into the native iOS mail reader. Have a look at the article here: http://engineering.linkedin.com/mobile/linkedin-intro-doing-impossible-ios#!

In principal, this is an interesting idea – it’s what CMS (Customer Management Systems) have been doing for a long time, which is integrating a database of users/companies into your emails so at a glance you go from email address to user profile to company all in the one spot.

From a user perspective, this is quite neat. Seeing where someone works as part of the email, their job title, other connections saves a lot of time and brain energy when they’re thinking ‘who is this guy?’ – but from a security standpoint this is bad.

LinkedIn’s whole quote on the privacy aspect of this is:

Security and Privacy

We understand that operating an email proxy server carries great responsibility. We respect the fact that your email may contain very personal or sensitive information, and we will do everything we can to make sure that it is safe. Our principles and key security measures are detailed in our pledge of privacy.


That doesn’t say much, apart from ‘Come on.. trust me!’. Firstly, you’ve got to give LinkedIn your email password. Check my previous article as to why this is bad: http://www.adamfowlerit.com/2013/06/02/linkedin-securityinformation-risks-with-exchange/ – a pledge of privacy isn’t going to help you after a catastrophic event.

So, this method is actually worse again. All your emails traverse via LinkedIn’s proxy service, the email gets modified then delivered to your iOS device. Emails are insecure by nature as they traverse the internet in plain text format (excluding things like PGP and other encryption methods that most people/companies don’t use), but having them centrally filtered via a 3rd party means you’re giving them a truckload of information about yourself, who you deal with, your email habits and so on.

Would your company be happy with a 3rd party that you have no agreement with, receiving and forwarding on all your emails? Even if the emails aren’t stored, if LinkedIn was breached again (which they have been before, multiple times), other people could obtain anything from your contacts, to your password and email contents.

oAuth is supported too, which is a safer approach as it can be revoked – but you’re still giving the same level of access while the connection is approved.

Luckily for Exchange administrators, that doesn’t seem to be supported yet according to https://intro.linkedin.com/micro/faq but for Google Apps people, you’ll need to look into how this can be blocked if you want to. If you’ve found out how, I’d be happy to add it to this post.

Update: There is a great writeup from Bishop Fox on several great reasons as to why this is a ‘bad idea’ http://www.bishopfox.com/blog/2013/10/linkedin-intro/

An Email Conversation Regarding Domain Names and Aliases

Posted on by Adam Fowler

Hi,

Just sharing some correspondence I had with a company that I signed up with to purchase some goods online. Details have been changed for privacy and a few extra lines in the emails deleted that were irrelevant.

From: Mr Website Owner <[email protected]>

Hello Mr Adam Fowler,

Recently you registered on our site using the email address of [email protected]

We are not sure why you have chosen our registered business name and web address as an email address.
We would hope that this is not for any misrepresentation. Therefore we request that you cancel this name registration immediately.

We would not like to have to report this to the authorities, ASIC or Planet Domain for a breach of any company laws or internet protocol related issues.

Thanking you in advance for your assistance.

Kind Regards,

Mr Website Owner

—

From: Adam Fowler <[email protected]>

Hi Mr Website Owner,

I’d recommend you have a chat with someone that knows I.T. to back up what I’m about to tell you, but this isn’t a name registration.
I own the domain mydomain.com and can have any email address @mydomainname.com, just like you can have anything @yourdomainname.com
That’s also why I’m replying from [email protected]
When I sign up for any service, I use a specialised email address solely for use with that business. Nobody sees this but you.
You can make up any word or phrase before @mydomainname.com and the email will get to me.
I also do not own any business, and do not have an ABN.

Threatening me with incorrect information, and being reported to the authorities isn’t the best way to deal with someone who’s planning to order XXXX from you.

Thanks

—

From: Mr Website Owner <[email protected]>

CC: Mr Website’s Lawyer

Thank you for your speedy reply.

It is unfortunate that your reply seems to contain a little more aggression that my email intended but that is the down side with the written word. Doesn’t contain emotion.

As you would be aware in owning a domain, which is just like any business, you need to protect it.

In today’s day and age, with Spammers, Hackers etc. doing enormous amounts of damage to all businesses, everyone needs to be vigilant.

We have competitors daily copying our business names (yes we have a few) registering and using names so close it’s confusing to our existing customers. Even down to having their office staff say they have the same name as our staff.

I accept your assurance that we are the only ones who will see this address, but I’m sure you would agree that it can be concerning to see initially.

I can assure you when I make a statement I have no intention of giving incorrect information.

When it comes to Misrepresentation I meant:

An assertion or manifestation by words or conduct that is not in accord with the facts.
Misrepresentation is a tort, or a civil wrong.

Many small businesses will have [email protected] as the email address for their business name of ‘My Big Pies’ because they don’t own a domain or have a web site. It’s any easy way to have a personalised email. Some of my friends have their business emails setup this way.

Just because you own a domain or even a printing press for that matter, doesn’t allow you to print a business card containing an email address of say [email protected] and be running an Electronics Service Business. The effect is confusion from Apple product owners who may think you work for or are an Authorised agent for Apple when this is not the case. I’m not here to lecture. I am asking in this case for some professional courtesy and refrain from using our business name just like any other business would.

If you are not happy with my explanation or request, please feel free to contact our Solicitor (I’m sure he is better with his words than I am):

<Lawyers Details Here>

If you choose not to purchase from us that is purely up to you. We can’t force you.  We do try to please every customer in the same way we fight to protect our business…with a passion.

Thanks again for your understanding and reply.

All the best,

Kind Regards,

Mr Website Owner

—

From: Adam Fowler <[email protected]>

CC: Mr Website’s Lawyer

Hi Mr Website Owner,
The reason for shortness on my last email is that I don’t like to be threatened, regardless if there is any emotion behind it.
To keep things short, are you confirming that you accept my explanation and that no action is required from myself? I have no interest in using your name for anything apart from an account I signed up to your website with, which now I would request that it be terminated and removed from any databases and mailouts.

Thanks

—

Mr Website Owner <[email protected]>

CC: Mr Website’s Lawyer

Thank you Adam,

Yes I accepted your explanation behind the creation of the email address. You must have quite a few if you deal with many businesses.

I will of course remove your account if you no longer require it.

Please accept my apology if I have caused any upset. It was not my intention. I am just very protective of my business as I’m sure you are with your domain.

Also I hope we haven’t sent you any unsolicited marketing emails in the past. We definitely don’t operate that way.

Consider it all closed.

Thanks again,

Kind Regards,

Mr Website Owner

—

From: Adam Fowler <[email protected]>

 

Thank you Mr Website Owner, I’ll consider the issue closed from my end too.

Anywhere I need to sign up for any service gets it’s own email address, you’d be suprised how many online companies seem to get hacked and their customer list starts to get spammed. There’s actually quite a few people who do the same, so you may see others sign up similar to how I did.

Not a problem either, I understand where you were coming from on it, which is why I took the time to explain.

Good luck with your ventures.

Thanks

—

That’s where it ended, apart from a week later I received a gift from the website owner of some of the products I was considering purchasing! Well done to him for turning the situation around in the end.