The sudden rush to provide remote access to employees by restructuring network and security systems during the lockdown made India vulnerable to ransomware attacks in the third quarter of current year, according to cyber security firm Check Point Software Technologies. Due to the immediate push, several IT companies were unable to scale up their cloud security postures which led to increased opportunity for cyber criminals to carry out attacks, Check Point Software Technologies India and SAARC Managing Director Sundar N Balasubramanian told PTI. According to the company s research, India was ranked second after the US among the top 5 countries most affected by ransomware attacks in the third quarter.
Restructuring of networks amid pandemic made India vulnerable to ransomware attacks: Check Point financialexpress.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from financialexpress.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Shipping Scams Up 440% Amid Record Online Shopping
Shipping scams are up a whopping 440% as online shopping hits new records amid the pandemic.
The coronavirus pandemic has changed how people are doing their holiday shopping, with many opting for online outlets rather than in-person options. Never too far behind any trend, scammers are seeing a potential gold mine.
According to Check Point Software Technologies, a firm specializing in cybersecurity, scammers are trying to trick shoppers into divulging sensitive information. The scammers are impersonating shipping companies, such as Amazon, DHL and Fedex, to get people to lower their guard.
Unlike classic phishing emails that are designed to lure people into giving personal details, credit card info or bank account credentials, these emails are specifically impersonating shipping vendors with different versions of fake messages reporting a “delivery issue” or “Track your shipment” details.
It looked like it was from UPS and it said we were unable to deliver your package. However, if you click on the following link you can look up the tracking information on that package and then you can reroute it back to your place. At that point, I clicked on the link and my screen started flashing, Hoehn said. The message said, You have been hacked. We have encrypted all of your files. Send, I think it was like 150 bitcoins to this address.
A fake shipping link can launch ransomware like it did for Hoehn, or it can redirect to a counterfeit branded page that asks for credit card or personal information to reroute a package, or tricks you into entering your username and password.
By Kaelan Deese - 12/19/20 04:09 PM EST
Threat prevention experts warn that shoppers expecting package deliveries from top shipping companies such as FedEx, Amazon and UPS could be subject to fake delivery notices.
The news comes as online shopping has increased during the holiday season amid the coronavirus pandemic. Consumers are relying more on online shopping and home deliver to avoid exposure to COVID-19, the disease that continues to infected hundreds of thousands of Americans each day.
Hackers are reportedly taking advantage of unsuspecting online shoppers, sending out fake shipping notification links to capitalize on the uptick of orders this time of year, CNBC reported.