Cybercriminal activity has surged in 2020. By May of this year, the number of reported attacks had already come close to the total for 2019, according to the federal government. With the onset of COVID-19, there were a plethora of new opportunities for cybercriminals to take advantage of our uncertainties, fears, and overall lack of knowledge about this virus and how it was spreading. Collectively, we are trying to figure out how to stop the spread of the virus, so we look online for updated information, tactics, and data. Hackers know this and use a variety of social engineering structures to manipulate not only the information that is out there but also our response to the information that they falsely provided.
Have you disclosed any private information on one of those “fun quizzes” that you are encouraged to play along with? Fraudulent email campaigns from fake healthcare companies provide an easy way to hit the masses, and to a cybercriminal, even a small return on their ‘investment’ is proving to be fruitful. We all have found ourselves working in unfamiliar environments, most likely from home. This is when our likelihood of being careless increases. You are relaxed and likely using unfamiliar software platforms to do your job. Video conferencing, chat programs, sharing platforms…it is safe to assume that you’ve been using at least one of these in the past few months that you hadn’t been well acquainted with a year ago. This new way of working creates large gaps in cybersecurity that give hackers an easy point of entry.
Social distancing has also given hackers a new way to gain trust. With the decrease in human interaction, we are less likely to verify the accuracy of what we read and hear, and we are less likely to practice smart cybersecurity habits. Despite being physically apart, now more than ever we must work closer together to reduce the risk, lessen the gaps, and build a stronger shield around our
businesses.