Posted on: May 18th, 2020

There has been a rapid increase in cybercrime during COVID-19, with attackers targeting people working from home on shared home computers with their families. The eSafety Commissioner saw a 40% increase in complaints in March, with people reporting phishing emails and social engineering attempts. Furthermore, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has received widespread reports of COVID-19 scams targeting both individuals and businesses. 

What you should look out for

The ACSC has outlined the most frequent scams that are circulating during COVID-19:

• Phishing emails offering COVID-19 relief payments and financial assistance, which contain attachments that ask for personal information or download malicious software to your devices.
• SMS scam messages with a link for free COVID-19 testing in your area. These SMS messages appear under the same conversation thread as official messages from myGov.
• Emails impersonating well-known organisations, such as the World Health Organization, prompting you to click on malicious links to access information on COVID-19 cases.
• Phishing emails pretending to be Australia Post, stating that their parcel could not be delivered and asking they visit a website, which will steal your personal and financial information.
• Emails with attachments claiming to contain advice on safety measures, which when opened give the attacker ongoing access to your devices.

How to keep safe

1. Read all emails and SMS messages carefully, looking out for any information that appears to be incorrect. This could include the sender, their email address, grammar and spelling, or hyperlinks. Click here for more ways to spot a scam email.
2. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication, protecting your accounts with an additional factor of authentication, even if passwords or personal information are compromised.
3. Protect your family and children online by using the Australian Government’s eSafety website. With children spending an increased amount of time online to communicate with friends and access education, the website is a fantastic resource to help families navigate their time online safely.

For further help protecting your business during COVID-19, please contact the team at Tango Technology.

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