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ARTICLE · 04 MAY 2020

Beware Of COVID-19-Based Cyber Attacks, Say US And UK Agencies

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Malicious cyber actors have been exploiting the COVID-19 crisis, warn the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)…

United StatesTechnology
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Malicious cyber actors have been exploiting the COVID-19 crisis, warn the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in a joint release issued April 8. Bad actors have done so in two main ways: first, by grafting COVID-19-related themes onto standard cyberattack practices; second, by exploiting vulnerabilities in services that have seen increased use since the pandemic began.

Standard Practices with COVID-19-Related Themes

Phishing Emails

  • Phishing emails have contained subject lines like "2020 Coronavirus Updates." These emails often purport to come from sources entities, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), individuals titled "Dr.," (including Dr. Tedros Adhanom, the actual director-general of the WHO), or their company's HR department.

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