banner advert
Profits and Pitfalls
Case Study | June 2020
Well-crafted social media content can deliver a multitude of benefits. But there is a potential downside, warn the Cyber Threat Intelligence Professionals at Cyjax
Remote Working: Do It Right
Strategy | June 2020
How do you ensure your business remains secure during remote working? Phil Underwood, Chief Information Officer, SecurEnvoy, and Chris Cassell, Technical...
Business continuity and crisis management in the time of Covid-19
Masterclass | June 2020
The current pandemic demands an extraordinary response - in which both business continuity and crisis...
banner advert
You've got mail: a digitised mailroom that's fit for the return to work
Product Focus | June 2020
Working from home is here to stay. Stay connected in the new normal
Access angst
Opinion | June 2020
When company employees are forced to start working remotely, they are often left with little time to prepare fully – and that can have serious repercussions
banner advert
Laying down the law
Security Update | June 2020
The General Data Protection Regulation laws are two years old, but are they having the impact expected in forcing organisations to protect their data...
Protecting the exposed
Features | June 2020
How do you plan a work-from-home strategy to avoid problems further down the line? Rob Allen, director Marketing & Technical Services at Kingston Technology...
Security Company of the Year - Computing Security Awards 2019
Awards 2019
WINNER: Brookcourt Solutions
Email Security Solution of the Year - Computing Security Awards 2019
Awards 2019
WINNER: Libraesva
Anti Malware Solution of the Year - Computing Security Awards 2019
Awards 2019
WINNER: SonicWal
Incident Response and Investigation Provider of the Year - Computing Security Awards 2019
Awards 2019
WINNER: Cyjax
Comment

Virus scam and easyJet breach

By any measure, the recent revelations that cyber scammers have been using SMS alerts to wrongly inform people they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus is shocking, though hardly surprising. The story, carried in The Guardian newspaper, goes on to detail how the text then directs them to a phishing site where any personal information they put in are harvested.

As Chris Ross, SVP, Barracuda Networks, comments: "Cyber criminals do not miss a trick when it comes to preying on people's fears, insecurities or even their goodwill. More recent efforts to trick people out of their money has seen scammers move away from the traditional email based phishing attack to an SMS based phishing attack, or 'smishing'.

"The most recent smishing attack, which uses an SMS alert to trick people into thinking they have come into contact with the deadly coronavirus, is one of the most immoral yet sophisticated smishing campaigns we've seen since the start of the outbreak. It is a reminder to the general public that cyber scams infect all messaging and communication platforms, and you should always verify information you are sent before taking any action or complying with written instructions. If unsure on the legitimacy on some information you have been sent, seeking advice from a specialist or security expert is always advised, particularly in the current climate."

Meanwhile, there has been strong industry reaction to the news that low-cost airline easyJet has allowed the personal details of nine million customers to be accessed by what are described as highly sophisticated hackers. "This is a difficult time for airlines and a data breach isn't going to help with regaining customers' trust," says Matt Aldridge, principal solutions architect at Webroot. "Airlines can be a lucrative target for hackers, as they are a treasure trove of personal information. They are very well-known brands, with critical missions of safety, compliance and keeping to schedule, so attackers would see them as likely to pay out large sums in a ransomware or other extortion scenario. As a result, robust security measures need to be put in place across the industry to reduce the risk of future attacks being successful."

Brian Wall, Editor
Computing Security

To make sure you get your copy of the Newsletter emailed to you personally, every time, click here to register.

Published by: BTC 35 Station Square Petts Wood BR5 1LZ
Tel: +44 (0) 1689 616 000

Privacy Policy.