![]() As we exercise social distancing and spend more time working remotely, the risk of falling into phishing traps increases. Phishing is certainly not new, but security experts report attacks are increasing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Password resets: Your online account has been compromised please click on a link to regain access to your account.Online shopping account spoofing: Your online shopping account experienced suspicious access activity that requires you to click on a link to review or confirm.Package delivery notification: A package that requires the recipient to click on a link to confirm delivery or to check tracking status.Social media spoofing: A social media notification, such as a friend request or a post you should “click to see”.Accounting fraud: A request from an accounting or a finance department or leader to approve an invoice payment, a journal entry, or other financial transaction.Spam filter bypassing: Tactics, such as zero-point font used to bypass spam filters that might be in place, often categorized as a more advanced spoofingīesides COVID-19 scams, other common scams are:.Social engineering: Leveraging LinkedIn and other publicly available information to map out corporate hierarchies and using the knowledge for executing educated spoofing attacks.Spoofing: Using look-alike names to authoritative personnel, adding or switching domains to malicious sites, or using similar email or site layouts.Spear-phishing: Faux emails, believed to be from a trusted sender, prompting victims to reveal confidential information or following links to credential harvesting websites or malware.There are several avenues attackers have been exploiting to conduct phishing attacks. When the victim clicks on the document, they could unknowingly yield control of their computer to someone working remotely through an embedded hidden code. Phishing attacks also prey on hunger for information in time of crisis by sending recipients attachments claiming to contain important health information. The URL appears to be from a legitimate website but clicking on it infects the victim’s computer by sending them to a malicious site that extracts their data. ![]() Common forms of phishing attacksĪs with most phishing attacks, the criminals often use legitimate content sourced from reputable organizations to entice the reader to click on a link. ![]() Either action could result in activating a malware or redirecting the user to enter confidential data. Scammers are sending emails that seem to come from legitimate organizations such as the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other government authorities.Īlmost all the fraudulent emails come down to asking the recipient to either click on a link or open an attachment. Now, COVID-19 is giving cybercriminals a new way to dupe anyone anxious about the pandemic, as That email may be infected too (pdf) explains. Employees victimized by attacks can expose critical company data located not just on their own computer, but throughout an entire network. They can be used to distribute misinformation, to obtain illicit financial gain, and to seek personal and sensitive information from a victim. Phishing and email scams have long been among the most popular and effective methods used by cybercriminals. The shift to remote working and fears about the virus have led to a surge in phishing attempts, with cybercriminals moving quickly to take advantage of the new world reality. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic opens up more opportunities for cybercriminals.ĬOVID-19 has upended work and home life for most of us. This includes any financial accounts, such as your online banking.Phishing scams have long been among the most popular cyberattack methods. Once they have access to your screen, they can access your personal information. The scam can only take place if you download the software and allow them to take control of your screen. It could be through your phone, laptop or computer. This could be software such as AnyDesk, Microsoft Teams, TeamViewer or Zoom. ![]() This could be software you have heard of or have used before with work, friends or family. The type of scams may vary, whether that’s help with an investment or a banking service, the scammer will typically ask you to download legitimate screen sharing software. Once a scammer has contacted you, they will try and gain your trust and convince you they can help. Or when searching online for an investment opportunity or the contact details for a company. You may be contacted out of the blue through social media or over the phone. A screen sharing scam is the method someone might use to take information from you or access your accounts to transfer your money. ![]()
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