How to spot scams like "cPanel - Secure SSL / TLS Settings"

What is "cPanel - Secure SSL / TLS Settings"?

Our team has determined that it is a phishing message posing as an important notification from the email service provider. The fraudsters behind it attempt to trick recipients into opening a fake website and providing personal details. Victims of this scam can experience account hijacking and further issues. This email should be ignored.

More about the "cPanel - Secure SSL / TLS Settings" scam email

This scam email claims that the recipient's email account settings have been updated for improved security and performance and urges them to reconfigure their email client. It warns that failing to apply the changes could interrupt email service. The message also includes fake account information, a verification number, and a link.

The link is designed to take users to a fake login page, which was down at the time of our check. Typically, fake login sites are designed to extract usernames/email addresses and passwords from visitors. If disclosed, these details can be used to hijack email accounts, and possibly other services (e.g., social media or banking accounts).

Scammers can use stolen accounts to distribute scams or malware, steal money or identities, harvest personal information, and or other malicious purposes. Thus, it is highly advisable to examine questionable emails before responding or entering personal information on provided sites.

Similar scam emails in general

Scams of this type are used to trick recipients into sharing login details with scammers. The provided links often lead to fake login pages. Stolen accounts may be exploited to spread malware, commit fraud, or steal identities, so it is important to carefully check suspicious emails before taking any action. Sometimes, scam emails can be used to distribute malware.

Some examples of scam emails are "Your Account Will Be Disabled Email Scam", "Fraudulent Activity Email Scam", and "Email Will Automatically Password Reset Scam".

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Malware is frequently spread through emails with harmful attachments or links. These attachments can include documents (Word, Excel, PDF), compressed files (ZIP, RAR), scripts, or executable files, and the malware usually activates when the file is opened or certain features, like macros, are enabled.

Links in these emails may direct users to fake or compromised websites that either automatically download malware or trick users into downloading and running it. Either way, infections via email can only occur after recipients interact with malicious files or links.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Be cautious with unexpected or irrelevant emails and messages, particularly those containing attachments or links. Only open files or follow links when you are confident they are safe. Also, avoid interacting with ads, pop-ups, or links on suspicious websites. Do not allow untrusted sites to send notifications.

Keep your operating system and apps up to date, use trusted security software to regularly scan your device, and download programs only from official sources or reputable app stores. Avoid pirated software, cracks, or unauthorized activation tools.

Text presented in the "cPanel - Secure SSL / TLS Settings" email letter:

Subject: Action Required: Update Your Email Security Settings

Secure SSL / TLS Settings (Recommended)

Hello ********,

We've updated your mailbox configuration to enhance security and performance. Please reconfigure your email client using the updated settings below.

Important: Not applying these settings may result in service interruption.

Name: ********
Date: 3/9/2026 8:45:34 a.m.
Status: Pending
Username: ********
Server: ********
Verification Number: {-random- }
SSL/TLS Encryption: Enabled

Click your domain below to update your email settings:
********

cP
Copyright © 2026 cPanel, L.L.C.

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Quick menu:

• What is cPanel - Secure SSL / TLS Settings phishing email?
• Types of malicious emails.
• How to spot a malicious email?
• What to do if you fell for an email scam?

Types of malicious emails:

Phishing Emails

Most commonly, cybercriminals use deceptive emails to trick Internet users into giving away their sensitive private information, for example, login information for various online services, email accounts, or online banking information.

Such attacks are called phishing. In a phishing attack, cybercriminals usually send an email message with some popular service logo (for example, Microsoft, DHL, Amazon, Netflix), create urgency (wrong shipping address, expired password, etc.), and place a link which they hope their potential victims will click on.

After clicking the link presented in such email message, victims are redirected to a fake website that looks identical or extremely similar to the original one. Victims are then asked to enter their password, credit card details, or some other information that gets stolen by cybercriminals.

Emails with Malicious Attachments

Another popular attack vector is email spam with malicious attachments that infect users' computers with malware. Malicious attachments usually carry trojans that are capable of stealing passwords, banking information, and other sensitive information.

In such attacks, cybercriminals' main goal is to trick their potential victims into opening an infected email attachment. To achieve this goal, email messages usually talk about recently received invoices, faxes, or voice messages.

If a potential victim falls for the lure and opens the attachment, their computers get infected, and cybercriminals can collect a lot of sensitive information.

While it's a more complicated method to steal personal information (spam filters and antivirus programs usually detect such attempts), if successful, cybercriminals can get a much wider array of data and can collect information for a long period of time.

Sextortion Emails

This is a type of phishing. In this case, users receive an email claiming that a cybercriminal could access the webcam of the potential victim and has a video recording of one's masturbation.

To get rid of the video, victims are asked to pay a ransom (usually using Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency). Nevertheless, all of these claims are false - users who receive such emails should ignore and delete them.

How to spot a malicious email?

While cyber criminals try to make their lure emails look trustworthy, here are some things that you should look for when trying to spot a phishing email:

• Check the sender's ("from") email address: Hover your mouse over the "from" address and check if it's legitimate. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft, be sure to check if the email address is @microsoft.com and not something suspicious like @m1crosoft.com, @microsfot.com, @account-security-noreply.com, etc.
• Check for generic greetings: If the greeting in the email is "Dear user", "Dear @youremail.com", "Dear valued customer", this should raise suspiciousness. Most commonly, companies call you by your name. Lack of this information could signal a phishing attempt.
• Check the links in the email: Hover your mouse over the link presented in the email, if the link that appears seems suspicious, don't click it. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft and the link in the email shows that it will go to firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0... you shouldn't trust it. It's best not to click any links in the emails but to visit the company website that sent you the email in the first place.
• Don't blindly trust email attachments: Most commonly, legitimate companies will ask you to log in to their website and to view any documents there; if you received an email with an attachment, it's a good idea to scan it with an antivirus application. Infected email attachments are a common attack vector used by cybercriminals.

To minimise the risk of opening phishing and malicious emails we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows. 

Example of a spam email:

What to do if you fell for an email scam?

• If you clicked on a link in a phishing email and entered your password - be sure to change your password as soon as possible. Usually, cybercriminals collect stolen credentials and then sell them to other groups that use them for malicious purposes. If you change your password in a timely manner, there's a chance that criminals won't have enough time to do any damage.
• If you entered your credit card information - contact your bank as soon as possible and explain the situation. There's a good chance that you will need to cancel your compromised credit card and get a new one.
• If you see any signs of identity theft - you should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission. This institution will collect information about your situation and create a personal recovery plan.
• If you opened a malicious attachment - your computer is probably infected, you should scan it with a reputable antivirus application. For this purpose, we recommend using  Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.
• Help other Internet users - report phishing emails to Anti-Phishing Working Group, FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, National Fraud Information Center and U.S. Department of Justice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did I receive this email?

Scam emails are usually sent to many addresses and they come without personal details (e.g., names or account information). Addresses often come from data breaches, fake sites, or other sources.

I have provided my personal information when tricked by this email, what should I do?

Immediately update any compromised passwords and notify your bank or relevant authorities if your financial information could be exposed.

I have downloaded and opened a malicious file attached to an email, is my computer infected?

Executable files can infect a device immediately upon opening, whereas other files, such as documents, typically only pose a threat if the user enables certain features or takes specific actions. The likelihood of infection depends on both the infected file type and the user's interaction with it.

I have read the email but did not open the attachment, is my computer infected?

No, opening emails is safe. Malware cannot infiltrate unless recipients open malicious files or links.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections that were present in email attachment?

Combo Cleaner can get rid of most malware, but a full system scan is suggested to find any hidden and advanced threats.