Cyber threats were always a huge risk for businesses. However, the COVID-19 outbreak opened the door to new cyber threat strategies and tactics that as a business owner you should be fully aware of.
The cyber-criminals have rapidly learned to exploit the fear around the COVID-19 pandemic and around the poor security measures implemented by some companies for their “work from home” systems.
Here, we overviewed for you the most common tactics and observed cyber threats during COVID-19 outbreak:
Phishing Campaigns
These remain the primary initial access point for a variety of threats – stealing personal data, taking money out of people’s accounts, installing malware or spyware, etc.
Your employees may become the victims of such campaigns putting at risk not only their own data and money, but also your business data and money, and your customers’ information you legally hold.
Your staff may be lured by things such as, but not limited to:
- Online fake sellers who promise to deliver essential products such as toilet paper, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, other cleaning products, groceries, etc.;
- The latest health guidance and rules or infection-rate maps that can be received only by providing some personal data;
- Email communication that mimics your official business communication, or other commercial suppliers’ communication, but asking for some personal or business data.
eCrime Activities
Online crimes with COVID-19 outbreak themes, have also been observed recently.
Distribution of malware, spyware, ransomware is easier done because of people’s fear and need for information or specific goods and products. All information available on the affected computers can be then accessed and stolen by cyber-criminals.
Targeted Intrusions
With cyber-criminals attacking specific businesses and institutions have also increased during the quarantine time.
Data is stolen through cyber-attacks that target software as a service (SaaS) and cloud-based remote connectivity services that companies use to support their employees working from home. These services, when combined with human error, pose a high-security risk for businesses.
Technical Support Scams or Voice Phishing Campaigns
These are other tactics used by cyber-criminals to steal data or money.
While working from home, your staff relies a lot on phone communication. Thus, they can receive calls from fake technical support to “secure” their computers in accordance with the “new” company’s procedures. Following the call instructions, they might give away passwords and other confidential data.
These are only a few of the multiple ways cyber threats can expose the vulnerabilities of your business. As security eggsperts, we recommend you to adopt a strong defensive attitude, by securing your networks and devices, setting up VPNs and multifactor authentication solutions, backing up your data regularly, and providing proper security training to your employees.
Count on EggHead IT eggsperts to develop the security services your business needs! Don’t wait, contact us today!
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