Cyber criminals are using the 2019 novel coronavirus to launch malicious phishing campaigns, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response reported today. According to ASPR’s Division of Critical Infrastructure Protection, phishing attacks have occurred through emails with attached Word documents offering supposed guidance on prevention infection, as well as PDF and MP4 file attachments. Hackers also have sent spam emails to users in Japan warning about a supposed new strain of coronavirus, the agency said. “There is an expectation that there will be more malicious email traffic based on 2019-nCOV in the future,” ASPR said. John Riggi, AHA senior advisor for cybersecurity and risk, advises this may be an opportune time to remind staff not to click on suspicious emails, links or attachments and for organizations to use a warning banner on emails originating outside the organization. 

Related News Articles

Headline
Microsoft July 19 issued an alert about active attacks from vulnerabilities targeting SharePoint servers used within organizations. The incidents have not…
Headline
In his latest AHA Cyber and Risk Intel blog, Scott Gee, AHA deputy national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, explains how hospitals can prepare for and…
AHA Cyber Intel
In today’s heightened threat environment, driven by domestic and geopolitical issues, it is more critical than ever for hospitals to prepare for and mitigate…
Headline
In a statement submitted to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for a hearing today on health care cybersecurity and patient privacy,…
Headline
Cyberattacks on hospitals are urgent threats to patient safety, care delivery and public trust. In this conversation, Ajay Gupta, board chair of Trinity Health…
Headline
The Food and Drug Administration yesterday released a safety notice announcing a software patch is available to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in…