With the world struggling with a health pandemic, scams are shocking. Unfortunately, bad characters are everywhere, always looking for opportunities and they’re seeing one in the coronavirus. This article outlines what you need to watch out for and how to stay cyber safe.
The last thing you want to read right now, is that there’s another threat out there – sorry, but it’s true. Cyber-criminals take advantage of fear. They take timely concerns and use them to target victims. Using the anxiety and upheaval around coronavirus is their mission.
What to Watch Out For
So far, several coronavirus-related attempts to cyber-scam people have been reported. There are examples of:
- emails that appear to come from government health departments;
- offering a tax refund to get people to click on malicious links;
- memos to staff that appear to come from large employers;
- COVID-19 test offerings from private companies;
- fake websites promising to sell face masks or hand sanitiser;
- soliciting donations to help fund a vaccine.
What to Do
Be cautious. It’s understandable that you’re anxious, but don’t let that stop you from taking cyber precautions. You should still:
- be wary of anything that tries to play on your emotions and urges immediate action;
- question where emails are coming from – remain vigilant even if the communication appears to come from a reliable source;
- hover over links before clicking them to see where they will take you;
- avoid downloading anything you didn’t ask for;
- doubt any deals that sound too good to be true (“a mask that stops the virus 99.7% of the time!”);
- ignore any communications requesting your personal information;
- don’t be suckered by fraudulent pleas for charity.
Global health organizations generally do not send out emails with advice. Instead, navigate directly to that reputable health institution for real news.
If you’re still not sure about the validity of the communication, check it out. Do so by calling or using another medium to get in touch with the “source” of the received message.
While there is not yet a vaccine for COVID-19, you can put anti-virus protection on your computer. Also, make sure that you’ve applied all available security updates to keep your software safe.
We hope you’ll take care and stay healthy both physically and online in these tough times.
Need help installing security software and keeping your technology safe? Our cyber-security experts can give your home a tech immunisation.
Contact us today at 1300 600 550.