{"id":21018,"date":"2021-01-13T11:01:32","date_gmt":"2021-01-13T16:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.psafe.com\/en\/blog\/?p=21018"},"modified":"2022-04-27T14:48:53","modified_gmt":"2022-04-27T18:48:53","slug":"interpol-has-issued-a-covid-19-cyberthreat-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.psafe.com\/en\/blog\/interpol-has-issued-a-covid-19-cyberthreat-warning\/","title":{"rendered":"Interpol Has Issued a Covid-19 Cyberthreat Warning"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last spring we wrote about the onslaught of malware and scams that accompanied the initial outbreak of Covid-19.  As we round the turn into 2021 and the first anniversary of the pandemic, INTERPOL (The International Crime Police Organization), has issued a stark warning about the continued escalation of cyberthreats from hackers and criminals leveraging the Covid-19 pandemic.  Hackers are punching on the intense interest and attention Covid-19 is receiving, in order to extract information and do financial damage.<\/span><\/p>\n

We wanted to let you know more about the threat, and how you can protect yourself.  We also wanted to provide a reminder that our security products, dfndr security and dfndr security Pro are designed to meet the needs of these kinds of heightened threat situations. Look to the end of this article for more information on how to download or upgrade these solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Perfect Storm Continues<\/b><\/h3>\n

With lockdowns and movement restrictions continuing as the virus surges again, many people are still more highly engaged with internet-mediated interactions than they have ever been before.  More time reading and writing emails, checking in with social media, shopping online (even for groceries), and of course, a large group of people continuing to work (and school) from home.  <\/span><\/p>\n

With the vaccines arriving on the scene, new variants of the virus, and infection rates climbing, news about the coronavirus remains an item of exceedingly high interest.  <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHackers  see the activity,\u201d says Emilio Simoni, Research Director at the dfndr Lab, \u201cthey continue to focus efforts on using the intense interest regarding this topic to get over that first hurdle all hackers must clear: gaining the victim\u2019s interest, and earning their implicit trust.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Simoni continues, \u201cSince March of 2020, when the WHO declared the pandemic, the PSafe cybersecurity team has detected and blocked more than 22,2 million scams related to covid-19.<\/b> Our success hasn\u2019t stopped them from trying though — they continue to rack up more victims who choose to go online unprotected.\u201d  <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Messages Change, Mediums & Methods Stay The Same <\/b><\/h3>\n

INTERPOL suggests there are three primary methods hackers are using to steal information or make financial threats:<\/span><\/p>\n

Malicious Domains: <\/b>Domains using \u201ccoronavirus,\u201d and \u201cCovid-19\u201d in some form or other, have grown exponentially. Many are legitimate of course, but hackers use the familiarity of the term, and resemblance to legitimate sites to make their dangerous sites look credible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Malware: <\/b>Malicious code that takes up residence on your computer and steals information or takes command of your machine. Malware is being used on Covid-19 sites and maps, in emails, and on apps offered for tracking or avoiding the virus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ransomware: <\/b>Ransomware threats are targeting medical and public institutions already over-stressed with managing their coronavirus response, as hackers feel this pressure increases the likelihood their ransoms will be paid.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Be On The Lookout<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cAny time there is a large scale event or response to this pandemic,\u2019 Simonis notes, \u201chackers will swoop in again \u2014 I think this is particularly important to remember as additional stimulus funds are made available, and as vaccine information and availability ramps up.\u201d  <\/span><\/p>\n

Another powerful factor driving this storm is curiosity: people are extremely hungry to hear news, and hopeful \/ practical news in particular.  Scammers have stepped into make the most of these factors, and as Emilio Simoni, Research Director at the dfndr Lab explains: \u201cWhat we\u2019re seeing is cybercriminals redoubling their efforts to create more, increasingly sophisticated scams, in order to reap profit from baseless, sensational ads or news \u2014 or through thefts of personal and financial data. The information they offer is almost invariably false, and sometimes the information itself is immediately dangerous to victims who act on it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

INTERPOL\u2019S Advice<\/b><\/h3>\n

Interpol suggests that users: \u201cBe vigilant. Be skeptical, Be safe.\u201d They suggest the following basic steps for protection:<\/span><\/p>\n