Hackers continue to profit from coronavirus

According to Checkpoint Software Technologies Ltd, the company that specializes in providing cybersecurity solutions, the coronavirus pandemic has been a springboard for cyber-mallening activities even for the past 4 months.

To believe that the theme is not about to run out of steam anytime soon. Indeed, Checkpoint has observed in recent weeks a sharp increase in attempts on the basis of phishing. The cybersecurity firm reports a more than 30% increase in pandemic-based cyberattacks since the beginning of May. It accounts for about 192,000 acts of cyber malice per week worldwide. These actions are organized around fake web platforms. These sites are centered around the theme of the moment with often variations: "coronavirus," "Corona" or "Covid." And the same policy is used for files, emails and associated attachments.

This article will also interest you: coronavirus as the main theme for phishing campaigns

Title spoofing is always the order of the day. While this has been present since the beginning, hackers continue to use visual identities, logos of international organizations such as WHO, companies (such as Google, Microsoft, Netflix or Zoom) or other agencies in public (especially ministries of health). Here again the objective remains the same. Encourage users to provide them with certain personal information such as names and surnames, passwords, dates of birth of locations, usernames, and even sensitive information such as credit card or credit card number. The conclusion is simple, containment has made things easier for them. Indeed, people confined to their homes often have no choice but to be constantly online, to be entertained, study and inform themselves and even work. All this has made the average individual more vulnerable than usual. "hackers pretend to be trustworthy organizations and send emails or instant messages. While the coronavirus epidemic has forced people to remain confined to their homes and developed remote work and digital communications, this year has created unprecedented opportunities for hackers," Checkpoint researchers said in a statement.

The most visible impact of containment has been the increased development of email fraud, according to the researchers. Indeed, Google has informed that more than 18 million emails are used on a daily basis for malicious purposes, especially for phishing, only on Gmail. The US giant also revealed that nearly 240 million spams are delivered daily on the coronavirus pandemic. This demonstrates greatly, the danger posed by malicious emails, they are so numerous that it is almost difficult if not impossible to distinguish them from real emails.