As many of you have transitioned to your home offices, keep in mind the evolving cyber threats, including new campaigns centered around the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Coronavirus-related cyber threats are many, including phishing attacks, malware and online sales of fake products.

There has been a spike in spear phishing campaigns centered around the Coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis. The FBI has issued a warning of ongoing phishing campaigns delivering spam that uses fake government economic stimulus checks as bait to steal personal information from potential victims.

Examples of phishing tactics:

• Contains links – even from friends, family, coworkers or clients
• Contains a download (i.e. – picture, file, document)
• A response to a question you never asked
• Info or password needs to be verified via a link provided
• A sense of urgency or warning if you fail to act
• Far-fetched schemes or scenarios

What steps can you take to help secure your systems at home?

• Use a Wired Connection – A wired connection provides constant and faster speed and is more secure than a wireless connection.
• Review Your Equipment – Call your Internet Service Provider and have them review and do a refresh of your systems to ensure the strongest, most secure connection.
• Run Updates – If you are running on a PC, run windows updates, patch and reboot – until there are no updates available.
• Subscribe to an Antivirus – Most ISP providers offer free antivirus programs.
• Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) – 2FA adds another layer of security by requiring two levels of identification prior to accessing your data. Cetrom recommends using 2FA for personal accounts as well (e.g. banking, etc.).
• Remain Vigilant – Home resources are oftentimes weaker depending on your setup. Unless you know for sure that an email is legit, delete it. It’s not worth the risk.