Windows 10: Coronavirus Cybercrime Scams

*This thread has been created to provide information awareness and hopefully some guidance at time of writing. As things evolve there will likely be changes and additions.


Microsoft has today published the following article:

Protecting against coronavirus themed phishing attacks
https://www.microsoft.com/security/...-against-coronavirus-themed-phishing-attacks/

Phishing is the most prevalent threat to the consumer home user but like othertrending world events

miscreants hackers, malware creators and scammers seize upon the opportunity to take advantage of people.


Malwarebytes Labs describe some of these other malicious activities in their recent blog.

Coronavirus scams, found and explained
https://blog.malwarebytes.com/scams/2020/03/coronavirus-scams-found-and-explained/


Here are some other examples reported by other security information providers.

FBI Warning: Phishing Emails Push Fake Govt Stimulus Checks
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...ishing-emails-push-fake-govt-stimulus-checks/


Sextortion Scam Threatens to Infect Your Family With Coronavirus
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...atens-to-infect-your-family-with-coronavirus/

Spyware disguised as COVID-19 tracker app actually keeps track of users
https://www.scmagazine.com/home/sec...19-tracker-app-actually-keeps-track-of-users/


Note: If you wish to track global statistics I recommend the following:

Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering CSSE at Johns Hopkins University JHU
https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

Furthermore, instead of using potentially malware apps advertised or promoted online for self-assessment, medical advice or how this situation impacts you I suggest visiting federal, state/provincial or local government websites If I find a link that lists these I will add it to this thread.


Important: For the time being this thread will remain open. I only ask that replies be restricted to re fences of other relevant and new information that would impact the home computer user.


Best wishes to all.


~bhringer

:)

 

Possible scam?

You're welcome.

Suggestion to also read:
https://blog.malwarebytes.com/cybercrime/2017/12/tech-support-scammers-make-browser-lockers-resilient/

 

Scam Alert

Suggest reading/watching:.

• Beware of Phony Tech Support Scams
• Protect yourself from tech support scams

 

security scam?

Yes. That's a scam which is going on since many many years.

Suggestion to read:

• Beware of Phony Emails & Tech Support Scams

• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/threats/support-scams

• Avoiding technical support scams
• Tech Support Scams – Help & Resource Page
• Best Practices for Safe Computing - Prevention of Malware Infection