Cybercriminals Aren’t Letting This Crisis Go to Waste
Cybercriminals Are Ramping Up Their Efforts with COVID-19 Related Scams As More Professionals Embrace Remote Work. Here’s How to Stay Safe Right Now.
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is rather well-known for his quote, “never allow a good crisis to go to waste.” Unfortunately, cybercriminals are listening to this advice right now – ramping up their efforts with COVID-19 related scams. As the global economy struggles, businesses shut down, and professionals embrace remote work more than ever before, cybercriminals are leaping at the opportunity to exploit the pandemic.
For those looking to steal valuable information or drain back accounts, It’s the perfect time to strike for two reasons:
- Everyone has their guard down in a state of uncertainty and fear
- Everyone is using remote access and cloud-based tools on unsecured devices
Naturally, remote work tends to be less secure compared to working in the office. Why? Because home computers don’t usually have the same security measures as work computers do:
- Firewalls
- Web content filtering
- Anti-virus software
- Intrusion detection software
- Intrusion prevention software
- And much more
Plus, home computers are typically less advanced and up-to-date compared to their office counterparts – meaning there are more vulnerabilities for cybercriminals to exploit.
Our Recommendations to Keep Remote Workers Safe During and After the Coronavirus Pandemic
Although phishing attacks and other types of threats are on the rise due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s important to keep your remote workers safe at all times – even after the current situation subsides. Here are our recommendations:
- There is no miracle cure for COVID-19: Keep in mind, there is no miracle cure. If you get an email regarding some sort of cure or treatment, ignore it and hit the delete button. It’s not true. Instead, it’s likely a phishing email designed to trick you into installing malware.
- Don’t wire-transfer money to anyone: This is one of the oldest tricks out there. Cybercriminals will call or email an unsuspecting victim, letting them know someone they love is in the hospital. Right now, they’ll mention coronavirus. If someone emails you asking for money for medical bills, it’s a scam.
- Microsoft, Google, and other technology firms won’t call you: We’ve heard of many instances of individuals being tricked into giving their login credentials to an attacker claiming to be from Microsoft, Google, or another technology firm. Hackers are aiming to get login credentials to break into corporate resources.
We will get through this. Listen to the professionals, practice social distancing, wash your hands, and keep your technology safe and secure. Need a hand? Get in touch with us via the chatbox.
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