Why must you pay heed to this warning?
It is because cybercriminals are taking advantage of the ongoing global lockdown, prevalent feelings of fear, uncertainty, and confusion around the world
world. The majority of people are working from home, which means that they have lesser cybersecurity in their homes than what they would have in their offices.
Steer Clear of Malicious Messages:
You might receive some emails and social media messages in which the senders will impersonate themselves as medical expert bodies, including the NHS, World Health Organization (WHO), and Centre for Disease and Control (CDC). The senders will play the tactic of requesting a donation to support the research of the Coronavirus vaccine.
You might also receive seemingly-legit phishing messages spreading fake news on tax rebates. Such scammers will ask you to enter your financial information to receive the tax rebate amount.
Another example of malicious messages is the fake promotional messages that scam users by advertising fake protective masks and hand sanitizers from malicious websites.
Scammers are Showing No Sense of Sympathy
Even at this time, when everyone should help each other and take care of everyone, some people are taking advantage of other people's problems like scammers.
To keep you safe online, here is a list of most commons scams happening right now in the world:
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Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are the biggest scams because emails can be sent in many forms. Mostly, the hackers are pretending to be health officials or national authorities advising about the coronavirus pandemic. The reality is that they are trying to trick you so that you will download harmful software that will exploit your computer's security.
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Fake Websites
Another common scam used by hackers is setting up a phony website. Hackers are making Corona related websites which claim to offer medical supplies and protective equipment for desperate buyers. The idea is to get bank details of people who have become anxious during this pandemic.
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App Scams
Hackers are also targeting smartphones and mobile phones by using Coronavirus related apps. The apps claim that they are tracing the corona victims in your local area, and many people will download these apps to know whether their local area is safe or not.
Stay Safe!
In trying times like these, it is imperative to ensure personal safety as well as your online safety. Educate yourself on the prevalent Coronavirus scams and adopt suitable malware protection measures so you can evade severe online losses. Remember that the best way to stay safe is to stay careful.
