"This update is designed to raise awareness of increasing COVID-19 themed malicious cyber activity, and provide practical cyber security advice that organisations and individuals can follow to reduce the risk of being impacted.
Malicious cyber actors are actively targeting individuals and Australian organisations with COVID-19 related scams and phishing emails. These incidents are likely to increase in frequency and severity over the coming weeks and months. This is due, in part, to the ease in which existing scam emails and texts can be modified with a COVID-19 theme.
Opportunistic malicious actors are exploiting peoples concerns and desire for information about the COVID-19 pandemic by directing them towards websites designed to either install malicious software or steal personal information. In the last few weeks, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has observed thousands of COVID-19-related websites being registered. While the majority of these websites are legitimate, many are being created by malicious cyber actors seeking to exploit Australians during this difficult time.
The malicious COVID-19 websites are designed to look legitimate or impersonate well-known organisations, making it difficult for individuals to detect. Cybercriminals use them to install computer viruses onto peoples devices, such as banking Trojans or different variants of ransomware, in order to generate profit. In other cases, they seek to harvest user credentials, such as personal identification, passwords and bank details, which are then used to gain access to the users networks, devices or online financial accounts."
SouthernComfort said
09:31 AM Mar 29, 2020
No surprise, these sicko's have no boundaries. Be vigilant with every piece of communication. Regardless of the topic you're best to assume it's 'loaded', especially if it contains links or onward directions. We are indeed living in a very sick world, in every sense.
iana said
09:45 AM Mar 29, 2020
Already had a couple of Telstra fraud emails. Beware!
This is well worth taking note of, there are some pretty low types in the world.
https://www.cyber.gov.au/threats/threat-update-covid-19-malicious-cyber-activity
Threat update: COVID-19 malicious cyber activity
"This update is designed to raise awareness of increasing COVID-19 themed malicious cyber activity, and provide practical cyber security advice that organisations and individuals can follow to reduce the risk of being impacted.
Malicious cyber actors are actively targeting individuals and Australian organisations with COVID-19 related scams and phishing emails. These incidents are likely to increase in frequency and severity over the coming weeks and months. This is due, in part, to the ease in which existing scam emails and texts can be modified with a COVID-19 theme.
Opportunistic malicious actors are exploiting peoples concerns and desire for information about the COVID-19 pandemic by directing them towards websites designed to either install malicious software or steal personal information. In the last few weeks, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has observed thousands of COVID-19-related websites being registered. While the majority of these websites are legitimate, many are being created by malicious cyber actors seeking to exploit Australians during this difficult time.
The malicious COVID-19 websites are designed to look legitimate or impersonate well-known organisations, making it difficult for individuals to detect. Cybercriminals use them to install computer viruses onto peoples devices, such as banking Trojans or different variants of ransomware, in order to generate profit. In other cases, they seek to harvest user credentials, such as personal identification, passwords and bank details, which are then used to gain access to the users networks, devices or online financial accounts."
No surprise, these sicko's have no boundaries. Be vigilant with every piece of communication. Regardless of the topic you're best to assume it's 'loaded', especially if it contains links or onward directions. We are indeed living in a very sick world, in every sense.
Look up this site to stay safe - www.staysmartonline.gov.au//alert-service/covid-19-scam-messages-targeting-australians