Caution: Your Computer May Get an Infection Due To the Coronavirus!
The panic that has been created by the Coronavirus is being used by imposters to scare people into clicking on links, open malicious attachments, or give out confidential information.
Be careful if you receive messages related to the Coronavirus, including emails, attachments, any social media, or texts on your phone.
Examples of topics within the messages include:
“Check updated Coronavirus map in your city”A Coronavirus Infection warning from a local school districtEmails or social media messages appearing to be from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) or WHO (World Health Organization)“Keeping your children safe from Coronavirus”Give a donationLink to educational material about the Coronavirus
A phishing attack is designed to harvest user names and passwords from people who click on the link. The email may look like it was sent by the CDC or WHO. The individuals using this phishing scam have created domains that look like the real CDC or WHO sites. There is absolutely no reason to provide login credentials to visit a public website, such as the CDC.
Be skeptical of any email that asks you to click on a link or open an attachment — even when the email seems legitimate. Unfortunately, there will be a number of scams related to the Coronavirus, so please remember to Stop, Look, Think, before you click on an attachment or link!
Always double check the URL of where you’re entering information and make sure it is a site you are familiar with.
February 21, 2020 by George Karalias
3