Tips on spotting cyber-criminals in the age of coronavirus
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By STHS IT Department
It’s one thing to know that cyber-criminals are out there looking for victims. It’s another to be able to spot them, however.
Fortunately, trends have emerged among online attackers as they try to exploit the public’s fears and concerns regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Below, find a list of COVID-related email subject lines and attachments already being deployed by hackers, phishers and scammers.
Be aware, however, that scammers can be expected to adjust their tactics as potential victims catch on, so extreme caution should always be exercised when receiving suspicious emails or those from an unknown sender.
If you suspect an email might be from a con artist, don’t open it, don’t click on any links or attachments included in it, and definitely don’t supply any personal information or passwords.
Your best line of defense? The “delete” button.
COVID-related email subject lines used by scammers:
- CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE // BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN ANNOUNCEMENT STARTING MARCH 2020.
- Latest corona-virus updates
- UNICEF COVID-19 TIPS APP
- POEA HEALTH ADVISORY re-2020 Novel Corona Virus.
- WARNING! CORONA VIRUS
COVID-related email attachments used by scammers:
- AWARENESS NOTICE ON CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 DOCUMENT_pdf.exe
- Coronavirus COVID-19 upadte.xlsx
- CORONA VIRUS1.uue
- CORONA VIRUS AFFECTED CREW AND VESSEL.xlsm
- covid19.ZIP