As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, another invisible foe that is largely present in our digital space is beckoning. Opportunistic cyber criminals are utilizing the disruption to global health, the economy and political and social systems to carry out cyberattacks centered around the pandemic. They are preying on people’s increased reliance on digital tools and the uncertainty of the crisis to distribute various malware packages, mostly through phishing emails and/or business email compromise (BEC) attacks to steal organization’s sensitive employee and customer data or intellectual property.
According to the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL) there has been a spike in cyberattacks, and many are directly related to the global pandemic as cyber criminals are taking advantage of the virus proliferation and societies’ need for information and supplies. Kroll experts Andrew Beckett, Managing Director and EMEA Leader along with Alan Brill, Senior Managing Director, of the Cyber Risk practice, and Sharon Barrett, Director in the Global Restructuring Advisory of Duff & Phelps, were quoted in an article for The Currency highlighting the importance for organizations to conduct a cyber audit in these trying times. It is key for businesses to stay better protected and ensure their sensitive data is not compromised. They further share the method employed by bad actors, the most common type of attacks in their arsenal and the best practices organizations and individuals alike can adopt to stay vigilant and secure from cyberattacks.
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