Cybersecurity Advice

Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As organisations across the UK take up hybrid working, the risk of a cyber-attack and compromise against individuals and businesses is expected to rise. 

 The IT Lab Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) has observed cybercriminals actively exploiting the urgent need for information on the emergency through coronavirus-themed campaigns including the development of malicious apps, fraudulent outbreak map websites and phishing emails.

The heightened interest in the news relating to the virus has resulted in an increase in social engineering with cybercriminals targeting individuals and businesses with fake emails. These promise important information when, in reality, they're designed to deliver malware to steal your credentials or infect your machine for other malicious purposes. Please take note of the following advice:  

• Be aware of emails sent from @coronavirus[.]*** addresses (or similar) and if it is hyperlinked in an email.
• Treat websites and apps that claim to be mapping and monitoring the coronavirus outbreak with extreme caution as there are a number known to be actively delivering malware.
• Be aware of email messages claiming to be from the World Health Organisation (WHO), UK government or HM Revenue and Customs.

SPAM email messages

If you receive any form of questionable communication (phone call, emails, SMS, etc.), report it to ITS as soon as possible.