cybercriminals are looking to cash in on the outbreak of COVID-19 AKA Coronavirus. This includes several type of scams, phishing and malware injection using social engeeniring trying to take advantage of people worries, looking for information and help, or wishing to help others through charity or NGO.

Phising attempts are aimed at both enterprise and general public: fake emails from CEO giving special instruction to employees, public administations warnings to population, fake eCommerce sites selling counterfeit masks, medical devices or drugs, spread of misinformation. Criminals are quick in trying to make a profit, but this is nothing new: natural disasters have always been accompanied by such attacks. Remember what happened during Australia fires. 

Just to have an idea of the intensity of the attacks, as of March 30 2020, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) had received and reviewed more than 1,200 complaints related to COVID-19 scams.

Phishing

When trying to have someone open an email and its attached document, generating trust is getting harder everyday as people are getting more and more aware and cautious about the existing risks. But fears and concern can be stronger and make people forget the usual precaution they take.

That is what many phishing attacks are trying to use lately: fake messages from health specialists with attached document containing malwares, from companies CEO giving instruction to their employees with links to malware sites, or from public health administration such as CDC has appeared since the beginning of the crisis.

Samoby can automatically detect such attacks in your iOS and Android devices, and prevent you from following such malware links.

Software from untrusted sources

  • Malicious cyber actors may use legitimate-looking telework software—which may be offered for free or at a reduced price—to gain access to sensitive data or eavesdrop on conversations.
  • Cyber actors may also use phishing links or malicious mobile applications that appear to come from legitimate telework software vendors.

Samoby can protect you against downloading software from Unknown source, and detect those malware that send your personal data out of your mobile phone to attacker servers.

Stay alert

Cybercriminals will try to take advantage of the fact that Less attention to security procedures will be paid amid the outbreak.

We must follow on Adhering to security best practices, already put in place for the majority of organizations, and extend them to employees working from home if necessary. Auditing these practices and rolling out revised educational security programs for employees as they work through the pandemic are the foundations of effective security measures. 

These are challenging times for all, and while our physical health undoubtedly remains the priority of our response, maintaining our resilience to cyber attacks will only aid our ability in limiting the viruses’ impact. 

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