Interpol warns that cyberthreats are constantly evolving in order to take advantage of online behaviour and trends. The COVID-19 outbreak is no exception.
Namely, cybercriminals are attacking the computer networks and systems of individuals, businesses and even global organizations at a time when cyber defences might be lowered because of the shift of focus to the health crisis.
The attacks could regard
- Malicious domains;
- Malware;
- Ransomware.
Recommendations
Now is the moment to focus on cyber-security:
Keep your information safe
- Back up all your important files, and store them independently from your system (e.g. in the cloud, on an external drive);
- Always verify you are on a company’s legitimate website before entering login details or sensitive information.
Check your software and systems
- Ensure you have the latest anti-virus software installed on your computer and mobile devices;
- Secure email gateways to thwart threats via spam;
- Strengthen your home network;
- Secure system administrations vulnerabilities that attackers could abuse;
- Disable third-party or outdated components that could be used as entry points;
- Download mobile applications or any other software from trusted platforms only;
- Perform regular health scans on your computers or mobile devices.
Be vigilant
- Talk to your family −including children − about how to stay safe online;
- Regularly check and update the privacy settings on your social media accounts;
- Update your passwords and ensure they strong (a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers and special characters);
- Do not click on links or open attachments in emails which you were not expecting to receive, or come from an unknown sender.
