Scams for viruses: The special conditions it has caused around the world coronavirus pandemic are being exploited by cybercriminals, as ESET warns.
Global concern, vulnerable groups at high risk, excessive demand for goods that are no longer in stock and misinformation on social media - all of this equates to a huge opportunity for cybercriminals.
ESET researchers have compiled some of the most common forms of fraud and analyzed them, drawing the attention of users.
Malicious news. Scammers pretend to send important information from reputable agencies, such as P.O.Y. (Fig.1) or from reputable journalistic organizations, such as the Wall Street Journal (Fig.2), with the aim of tricking potential victims into clicking on malicious links. Typically, such links (Scams) can install malware, steal personal information, or attempt to extort login credentials and passwords accesss.
Exploitation of charity. Σε αυτή τη μορφή scam, οι κυβερνοεγκληματίες προσπαθούν να πείσουν το θύμα να βοηθήσει στη χρηματοδότηση εμβολίου για τα children στην Κίνα. Καθώς αυτή τη στιγμή εμβόλιο δεν υπάρχει, οι χρήστες τελικά καταλήγουν να στέλνουν bitcoin στα πορτοφόλια των απατεώνων. Η τεχνική είναι αποτελεσματική μόνο σε ένα πολύ μικρό ποσοστό χρηστών, αποκτά όμως σεβαστό μέγεθος αν αναλογιστεί κανείς ότι γίνεται σε παγκόσμια κλίμακα.
Masks. In another type of scam, cybercriminals send spam emails (Fig.3) to trick victims into ordering masks that will keep them safe from the coronavirus. In reality, victims end up unwittingly revealing sensitive personal and financial information data. According to Sky News, fraudulent mask sellers ripped off £800.000 ($1 million) from users in the UK in February alone.
ESET advises users to be aware of these and related scams and to be extremely careful by applying the following guidelines:
• Avoid clicking links or downloading spam attachments / texts from unknown or even trusted sources unless you are absolutely certain that the message is genuine.
• Ignore communications that ask for your personal information. If you feel it is necessary to provide them, be sure to first verify the authenticity of the sender, using a different medium than the email itself (eg. search on the Internet).
• Pay special attention to emails marked "urgent" or "caution" and urging you to take immediate action or offer COVID-19 vaccines or treatments.
Beware of charitable campaigns or crowdfunding campaigns that may be fraudulent.
• Use reliable software with multiple levels of security that it has protection from electronic "phishing".
