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COVID-19 Scams: Phishing, Malware and Ransomware…

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Campus IT Security will be providing relevant information and recommendations in order to assist users during the current COVID-19 crisis to ensure users have the necessary information they need to operate their work and home devices securely.

During the COVID-19 crisis the industry and in particular educational institutions have become targets of numerous cyber-attacks. Phishing attempts exploiting user’s curiosity for up-to-date and new information have been on the rise.

Information about the most recent scams relevant to our UCLA Campus, How to Report a Phish, and Tips on How to Protect Yourself From Being Phished on the Phishing Scams webpage. 

DATE ALERT DESCRIPTION
10/19/20 Spear-phishing using fraudulent requests for interviews related to COVID research As we focus on research around COVID-19, cybercriminals are focused on targeting researchers. Read our recommendations to protect yourself.
7/21/20 Malicious Activity Targeting COVID-19 Research, Vaccine Development A malicious cyber actor is using a variety of tools and techniques to target organizations involved in COVID-19 research and vaccine development.
7/13/20 Scammers Exploit California’s COVID-19 Contact Tracing Program Officials are warning that scammers are exploiting California’s Coronavirus Contact Tracing program - The program that health workers use to call everyone who came in close contact with a COVID-19 patient.
5/22/20 Employment Termination Results from COVID-19 Downsizing Cyber criminals are targeting teleworking employees with fraudulent termination phishing emails and VTC meeting invites, citing COVID-19 as the reason.
3/22/20 Microsoft RCE Vulnerabilities Affecting Windows, Windows Server Microsoft has released a security advisory to address remote code execution vulnerabilities in Adobe Type Manager Library affecting all currently supported versions of Windows and Windows Server operating systems.
3/18/20 Cyber Threats Most Likely to Impact the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Ransomware is a type of malicious software (malware) designed to extort money from victims by restricting access to a computer, mobile device, or digital files.
3/14/20 Malicious Website Pretending to be the Live Map for Coronavirus-19 Global Cases by John Hopkins University There has been a circulation of malicious websites pretending to be credible sources for more information on the Coronavirus-19
3/14/20 Rise of COVID-19 Scams & Attacks Against Unsuspecting Targets Worldwide

Threat actors are using COVID-19-themed phishing emails to serve malware and phish landing pages