Beware! Coronavirus used as bait in phishing attacks

Although the Wuhan coronavirus has not caused significant infections in the U.S., it is still being used in email phishing attacks to infect computers.

The infected emails contain links to pdfs or .doc files that purport to be a list of people in the area infected with the virus. The links may appear to come from the Centers for Disease Control, but in fact, redirect users to a page that appears to be Outlook. Or, it can offer ‘safety measures’ in the form of a pdf. Clicking on any of these links exposes users to malware designed to access bank accounts, financial data, and bitcoin wallets, according to Bleeping Computer.

It’s worth noting that major events or holidays have also been used with these phishing attempts. It was infamously used to invite recipients to a demonstration by global warming activist Greta Thunberg. It has also been used in invitations to Christmas and Halloween parties.

Protect yourself by never opening attachments unless confirming over the phone with the sender.