threat updates
GLOBAL
Since the start of the
COVID-19 pandemic, the World
Health Organisation (WHO) has
seen a dramatic increase in the
number of cyberattacks directed
at its staff and email scams
targeting the public.
Some 450 active WHO email addresses
and passwords were leaked online along with
thousands belonging to others working on the
novel Coronavirus response.
The leaked credentials did not put WHO systems at risk because
the data was not recent. However, the attack did impact an older
extranet system used by current and retired staff as well as partners.
WHO is now migrating affected systems to a more secure
authentication system.
GLOBAL
It was recently reported that Google has malware scanners built
within the Gmail free email service, which has blocked around
18 million phishing and malware emails using COVID-19 lures
within one week.
Erich Kron, Security Awareness Advocate at KnowBe4, said:
“The fact that 18 million COVID-19 related emails are blocked
each day just by Google is a sign of just how prolific these
attacks are.
“In these times of high stress and change, cybercriminals know
that humans are more vulnerable than ever to phishing and
smishing attacks and are doing their best to capitalise on this.”
24 Issue 25 | www.intelligentciso.com