Page 50 - the SyI Quarterly V3 digital (1)

Education and Learning

Cyber Security for Home Users

now available to all SyI members

If there’s one thing certain during this period of uncertainty
created by the on-going COVID-19 crisis, it’s that every time
there’s a major news story or world event, hackers jump
at the chance to take advantage to launch attacks against
unsuspecting victims, and unfortunately the COVID-19
pandemic is no different.

Between January and March, more than 4,000 coronavirus-
themed web domains have popped up. It is suggested
that around 5 per cent of these are suspicious and 3 per
cent malicious (March 2020). The websites would likely be
used as part of email campaigns to lure victims to click on
dangerous links.

Cybersecurity firms are reporting a notable increase in attacks against a range of targets, all using the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
as a hook to trick their victims into running malware.

Cybercriminals are using the coronavirus to spread several different types of malware. Some of these campaigns imitate “trusted”
organisations like the World Health Organization to infect their victims. Researchers say that attackers aren’t just using the
coronavirus as a cover for spreading malware. There is evidence of what appears to be the first case of a coronavirus-themed
business email compromise attack, designed to trick businesses into turning over money. There has also been an increase in
targeted attacks against executives in conjunction with this pandemic.

Another big vulnerability is hackers accessing sensitive data through Wi-Fi networks. Individuals are typically using their home
networks for their work to further isolate data or accessing public Wi-Fi.

Individuals have also been targeted by Coronavirus-themed phishing emails with infected attachments containing fictitious ‘safety
measures”, such attacks have recently become more targeted, with greater numbers focusing on specific sectors like shipping,
transport or retail to increase the likelihood of success.

One way to fight back against these attacks is by ensuring the employees are aware of the threats they are facing and educating the
workforce.

50