Scumbag scammers are already on the coronavirus trail as cybercriminals capitalize on the thirst for information about the pandemic.
Online protection company Norton issued an alert to its clients this week saying there are reports of coronavirus phishing scams that attempt to steal personal information or infect devices with malware.
This is in addition to advertisements that peddle false information or scam products.
READ: Airlines brace as WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic.
Norton cited one example of a phishing email that used the logo of the Centres for Disease Control Health Alert network and claimed to provide a list of local active infections.
Recipients were instructed to click on the email to access the list and then provide email log-in credentials which were then stolen.
The company urged people looking for information on the coronavirus to contact legitimate sources such as the CDC or the World Health Organization.
They also needed to be wary of emails that may appear to be from a trusted source. This meant looking at the part of the email after the @ symbol in the from line to ensure it was legitimate.
Fake emails often have a slight misspelling so they may look genuine at first glance (In the case of Airlineratings, the correct address is @airlineratings.com).
Emails or phone calls offering unexpected or unprompted information should also be treated warily, the company said, as should emails from unfamiliar sources that contain links or attachments.
“Do not click on these links, as they may be embedded with malware,’’ it added.
And then there’s Facebook.
“Although social media companies like Facebook are cracking down on ads spreading coronavirus conspiracies and fake cures, some ads may make it past their review process,’’ it said, reiterating its advice to seek information from legitimate sources.
Finally, users should make sure their antivirus protection — in case of this advisory, of course, Norton’s product — is active and correctly set up.
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