eMails, web sites, social media posts, twits, any and everything we've ever thought of or used is being used to capitalize on the outbreak. The chance of appearing to come from friends and/or family are very large.
The above eMail is an example of these fakes. Reports are many thousands a day are fake or attempting to lure the public to sow fear or gain financial advantage - cost the public money. Who sends these and similar eMails? Every/Anyone with $200 to purchase a Covid-19 themed phishing kit.
Then there are apps. Apps for smart phones, Windows, MacOS, etc. Some are Covid themed directly. Some are Covid victim themed. Some have replaced the fold@home app (the real fold@home uses unused compute power to fold proteins for Covid and other research) .
Fake or rogue domains. Hundreds are registered every day. One on one of these newly registered sites, users are asked for donations to fund vaccines, help victims, etc.
With a larger workforce working remotely malware can more easily target and exploit remote worker's lesser protected machines that then connect to the company's infrastructure. Mom and/or dad now use the family computer that has been used all day by the curious teens in the house.
The worst? Attackers of healthcare providers, agencies, and government agencies in the fight of Covid-19. State public health sites hit with ransomware (it is possible they would have been hit by ransomware attack anyway, just more likely to get past defenses given the stressed workforce).
Be aware, be prepared, be wary, be safe. Like the virus, if each of us is safer, we are all safer.
Update: Researchers report 30,000% INCREASE in pandemic related threats. The FBI is seeing similar trends. I too see a lot more related scans, scams, and attempts via any and all past and current methods.
30,000% is NOT a typo!
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