Why cybercriminals thrive during a crisis

Posted on: May 21st, 2020 onPlatinum

There has been a significant increase in cybercrime during COVID-19, with many people reporting scams targeting individuals and businesses. A crisis brings an increase in people working from home or increasingly using their personal devices, and an increase in unemployment. But why do cybercriminals increase their attacks during a crisis?

Cybercriminals thrive on people’s uncertainty, hysteria and a disruption to society. It is the perfect opportunity for them to strike as people have heightened emotions and are adjusting to changed circumstances. Many people are now relying on the internet to complete their work, with a reliance on email and online tools that may not be secure.

They also understand that with a crisis comes an increase in unemployment and people are incredibly stressed. Cyber criminals can use this to target vulnerable job seekers with fake job advertisements, asking for driver’s license details which can be used for identity theft. During a crisis, people rely on government websites for vital information and support. Cybercriminals quickly adapt their strategies to mimic official sources with malicious links, websites or files.

People need to be cautious of any SMS or email messages they receive from people they do not know. Phishing emails are rampant, so make sure you know how to spot a scam email. Furthermore, it is essential to establish an educated, cyber aware culture in your business.

Crises are incredibly stressful times, so you don’t want to be worrying about potential cyber attacks. Cybercriminals thrive during a crisis on the chaos and confusion. Cyber security might not be a priority during a crisis, but it should be a top priority to keep your business secure.