Here are this weeks tips to keep you and the County’s information digitally safe while you remain physically safe in your homes. Unfortunately, I cant provide any tips to keep you emotionally safe from the “cabin fever” that you are probably experiencing by now.

Disinformation:

I received an interesting report yesterday from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) discussing the dramatic increase in disinformation related to COVID-19. I have attached a copy of this report if you wish to read the complete document. However the most interesting part that I though should be passed along to you are the recommendations to protect yourselves from this type of threat. DHS recommends the following:

1. Go to trusted sources of information like www. Coronavirus.gov. FEMA has also established a coronavirus rumor control website at www.FEMA.gov/coronavirus/rumor-control where you can learn more about specific disinformation campaigns.
2. Check the source of the information.
3. Search for other reliable sources of information on the issue.
4. Think before you link – take a moment to let your emotions cool down before sharing anything online.

Tips like this can be helpful not just for information related to COVID-19. Consider these recommendations when viewing any information obtained from online sources.

• CISAInsights-COVID-19_Disinformation_Activity_MAY2020_Final_508.pdf

Top Scam of the Week:

With the unemployment rate the highest since the Great Depression millions are looking for ways to make ends meet. A new job scam is doing the rounds, preying on people that want to make $5,000 a month doing work from home. It sounds like a great deal, but this scam is run by criminals that will try to use their victims for money laundering. If you get an email claiming you can make this much money to make ends meet since you or a family member was laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic, use your delete key. In general, be very careful with any Internet "work from home" schemes, many of these are fraudulent. Do not give out any personal information to these criminals and warn your family members and friends.

We continue to receive warnings from the FBI, DOJ, and other federal and state resources reporting increases in attacks.

Again, a reminder of other attacks that have been seen:

• Phishing scams promising stimulus checks – This week there seems to be an increase in reports of this type of scam.
• Websites promising to provide free Coronavirus testing and vaccines
• Headlines that when clicked distribute malicious software with the ability to bypass antivirus and other protective controls.
• Extortion scams threatening to infect family members with Coronavirus if payment is not made to the threat actors.
• Extortion scams requesting payment for stolen or encrypted files (aka. Ransomware) with a twist in which the scammer claims to possess damaging information obtained from the files about the victim that will be released if the extortion money is not paid.
• Coronavirus-themed spam and phishing messages spreading malware, impersonating the “Centers for Disease Control & Prevention” or the “World Health Organization” (WHO).
• Targeted e-mail addresses to deliver a Word document embedded with a script ultimately resulting a malware infection of the computer
• Malicious coronavirus map hiding malware that steals information from your system(s) etc.
• Here is a new addition to the list - Fake “free trial” scams offering free product or subscription to services. These scams advertise “no risk”, “cancel anytime”, and may use celebrity photos or videos to make it seem like they are promoting the product or service. This scam is intended to steal financial information.

Remember that the malicious among us will continue to devise new and creative ways to compromise our systems, steal our data and take advantage of your good natures.

If you would like to review an extensive list of COVID-19 scams, the Cybercrime Support Network has complied a very impressing one. This list can be seen here.