Working-From-Home? Beware of these cyber-attacks!



The Coronavirus led to an exponential change in the way we work and made working-from-home the new ‘normal’. Along with the pandemic, a new threat has crystallized globally: cyberattacks. Remote working has led to the sharing of documents and other confidential data on the internet. This has opened up an archway to different kinds of data theft. Hackers have taken advantage of the current situation and are exploiting vulnerabilities in the work-from-home culture. Scams, phishing websites, spam messages, and maps loaded with malware linked to the Coronavirus have been reported all over the world. 


A current example is the spread of phishing emails. A lot of cybercriminals pretend to be a reliable source of information about the latest news regarding COVID-19 and send users links that lead to malicious websites. Such emails give attackers unauthorized access to data and our devices. 


The circumstances will remain unaltered for a long time and this raises grave concern about cybersecurity. According to 80% of IT pioneers, the risk of cyberattacks is greater when working-from-home. The primary solution is to spread awareness to mitigate cyber risks and build a more resilient cyber environment. 


Some of the most common kinds of cyber threats include: 


  • A variety of malicious domains with the terms ‘Coronavirus’, ‘COVID-19’, and so on. Cybercriminals are creating several new websites and applications every day to carry out spam campaigns and spread malware. 


  • Spyware and Trojans are tricking users into clicking on links that download malware. 


  • Current ransomware attacks include information about vaccines and short-supply commodities, financial scams, critical updates, and so on. Hospitals, medical centers, and public institutions are being targeted the most. An example is that criminals lock them out of their systems and ask them to pay a ransom. 


  • Phishing is yet another commonly attempted cybercrime. Attackers are tricking users into clicking on malicious links that eventually downloads malware on their device. With this, they can steal and attack your sensitive data. Hackers send legitimate-looking emails with attachments that will give them access to the user’s device. 


  • A lot of employees are downloading their work files on an unsecured computer for different reasons. This will make such secured data vulnerable to attacks and increase the overall risk. 


How you can enhance cybersecurity for remote work:


  • Avoid using open/free Wi-Fi networks. 
  • Do not share sensitive information via emails. 
  • Use your work computer only for work-related purposes as they are usually equipped with additional security. 
  • Changing default passwords and keeping stronger passwords. 
  • Following cyber-hygiene as laid out by your company.
  • Conducting regular cybersecurity staff training and awareness sessions. This will create a ‘human firewall’ and prevent potential damage to your data. 
  • Avoid sharing meeting links on social networks.
  • Not opening unidentified links on emails. 
  • Develop a business continuity plan and a disaster recovery plan for your organization. 

The way forward: 


For the year 2021, cybersecurity experts predict that there will be an incident every 11 seconds. This forces us to re-evaluate our cybersecurity practices. Cyber risk is real and as long as the pandemic exists, the risk of you being exposed to it is higher. A point of concern is that such threats continue to evolve and it becomes crucial for us to better our cybersecurity standards.  You must use these circumstances to start a dialogue on security within your organization.  


While it is necessary to be safe in this pandemic, it is also important to remain cautious against the ‘cyber pandemic’. Spread awareness and stay vigilant. We are all in this together.

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