This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting millions worldwide, hackers are capitalizing on people's fears to launch phishing scams and exploit security flaws in collaborative software tools.
Just as you can take steps to protect your body from COVID-19 infection, you can also take steps to protect your devices and home network from hackers during this time.
Be vigilant against phishing emails and other scams, especially those that purport to offer information related to the pandemic or your health.
Be Especially Vigilant Against Scams ¶
Phishing emails related to the virus saw a massive spike right away as the pandemic began to take hold, according to The Verge.
Phishing emails are nothing new, and avoiding COVID-19 phishing scams requires the same strategies as avoiding any other phishing scam.
Keep Your Network and Devices Secure ¶
With so many people working from home right now, safety protocols are more lax than they've ever been.
Working from your home network doesn't provide the same level of security as working from the office, where data is kept secure on internal servers, firewalls are in place, machines are equipped with up-to-date anti-malware protection, and there's an entire department dedicated to keeping your info and machines safe and secure.
Stay on Your Guard When Using Collaborative Tools ¶
Collaborative tools like Zoom have been a godsend to companies that have been forced by circumstance to transition to remote workforces quickly, but these tools have also been found to be vulnerable to hacking.
For that reason, stay on your guard when using these tools — always consider that you don't really know who might be listening in, secretly recording calls and videoconferences, stealing transcripts, and the like.
