Information security during Coronavirus is just as important, if not more so. We are sure you have seen people trying to capitalize on the crisis in any way they can. Internet criminals and scammers are even further ahead of the curve.

So many businesses, large and small, have been blindsided by the impacts of the spread of the virus, and how governments have required businesses to respond, and cybercriminals know it. The spread of phishing scams, spam email, malicious apps, and even malicious browser extensions are all on the rise.

The team at Naked Security by Sophos has put together extensive resources to help keep Information Security professionals and business owners aware of the kinds of scams that are running rampant and exploiting fear and anxiety around the coronavirus. Here are their top 4 tips on keeping yourself and employees safe from the most popular exploitation tactics from their article Facing down the myriad threats tied to COVID-19

1. Don’t login to company websites via emails or texts. If a company wants or needs you to login to your account, you should already know how to access your account from the company’s own site or app. Even if it takes a few more clicks, it’s time well saved because you will automatically miss out on “logins” that could compromise your security.
2. Don’t make payments via links in emails or texts. This is point 1 in a different guise. If you need to pay a company online, reach the payment page by following your own research, or using a link from a document you already have such as a contract or a recent bill. Don’t get begged, cajoled or frightened into taking exactly the “short cut” the crooks want.
3. Don’t turn off security features because a document tells you to. Avoid opening unexpected or unsolicited email attachments if you can (and if you do, don’t click links in those documents – see 1 and 2). If a document asks you to [Enable content] when you open it, or make some other security downgrade, don’t do it – it’s a trick.
4. Don’t trust apps because the app creator tells you to. App reviews, positive app comments and high download counts are cheap to buy if you have no scruples. Reputation must be earned – it can’t be bought or self-declared. If in doubt, ask someone you know and trust for advice.

Our team has decades of experience keeping business data safe in good times and in bad. If your business needs help with setting up a remote workforce that is both secure and effective, contact us. Our technicians can work with you remotely or in your office space as long as we are provided access. Information Security is essential, and it should be done right to ensure your business can remain safe and as operational as possible during the changes everyone is experiencing.