Alert: Be Aware of Cyber Attacks Exploiting COVID-19

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have issued a joint alert regarding the growing use of COVID-19-related themes in malicious cyber attacks. Employees should remain alert to increased cyber activity relating to COVID-19 and take proactive steps to protect themselves.

Cybercriminals are likely to continue to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic over the coming weeks and months. Threats observed include:

• Phishing, using the subject of coronavirus or COVID-19 as a lure
• Malware distribution, using coronavirus- or COVID-19- themed lures
• Registration of new domain names containing wording related to coronavirus or COVID-19
• Attacks against newly—and often rapidly—deployed remote access and teleworking infrastructure

To view the full alert, visit the DHS website:  https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/aa20-099a