Authorities in the United States and Europe have issued warnings of increased malicious cyber-activity related to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
In an alert on Friday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said that scammers are leveraging the current crisis to steal money and personal information from unsuspecting victims.
The attacks, FBI says, may come in the form of fake Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emails, phishing emails asking for personal information to receive money or encouraging people to donate for various causes, and offers for counterfeit treatments.
“Protect yourself and do your research before clicking on links purporting to provide information on the virus; donating to a charity online or through social media; contributing to a crowdfunding campaign; purchasing products online; or giving up your personal information in order to receive money or other benefits,” the FBI says.
As a general rule, users should not click on unsolicited links or open attachments from untrusted sources. During the COVID-19 crisis, malicious websites or applications claim to provide real-time information on the pandemic, but lead to malware infections or the theft of sensitive information.
“Be cautious of anyone selling products that claim to prevent, treat, diagnose, or cure COVID-19. Be alert to counterfeit products such as sanitizing products and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including N95 respirator masks, goggles, full face shields, protective gowns, and gloves,” the FBI warns.
Multiple alerts published by U.S. attorneys on the Department of Justice’s website also warned on ongoing phishing attempts and cyber-crime activities targeting those concerned about COVID-19 in an attempt to infect their computers with malware.
On Sunday, DoJ announced the first legal action meant to combat fr ..
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