The COVID-19 outbreak has led to a number of people scared, shaken and hunting for the right kind of information to keep themselves safe. There are a number of service providers including Google and Microsoft working to ensure the right information is spread among the masses. However, with the rate at which information spreads today, it doesn't take long for you to receive an email that reads, “the vaccine for Coronavirus is finally here. Click here to know more.” In a state of panic to know whether the cure is real, you click on the link and without realizing it, you are subject to a phishing, malware or ransomware attack.
Coronavirus cyber-crime Alert: Don't fall victim to phishing or other cyber attacks
Rahul Tyagi, Co-founder, Lucideus says, “COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the geo-political, healthcare ecosystem and economic state across the world and as businesses grapple to stay afloat during this pandemic, we have witnessed a significant rise in cyber-attacks. Starting from phishing emails, to ransomware, to social engineering, hackers are targeting sectors like BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), healthcare and consumers to take advantage of a growing global healthcare concern.”
For those that don't know, phishing is defined as “the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.” Put simply, if you click on an unknown link, or download an unofficial app, you could be handing a hacker the keys to your life.
According to Forbes, Cybercriminals and nation state-sponsored spies didn't take long to catch onto the coronavirus panic. Research released Thursday shows crooks and snoops have been rapidly registering vast numbers of potentially-malicious websites and sending out masses of scam emails as they try to make money from the pandemic. A report from cybersecurity company Recorded Future noted a significant rise in website registrations related to the COVID-19 virus, some of which it believes are being used to either pilfer information from recipients or infect them with malware
. Forbes also has a list of domains that are potentially dangerous and you should check them out.
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COVID 19 | cyber crime | Coronavirus
