The Cybercrime Competence Center at the Federal Criminal Police Office warns against criminals who enrich themselves at the expense of others under the guise of “coronavirus”.
The current situation is understandably causing uncertainty for many people. Criminals often take advantage of such situations to enrich themselves. Especially in the digital sector, you will have to expect that criminals will try to cause you harm under the guise of “coronavirus”.
This could happen, for example, as follows:
• a website asks you to enter your data to stay informed about the latest developments related to Corona.
• an email asks you to install new software for teleworking.
• an email asks you to enter your password on a website to activate the new collaboration tool (video conferences, chat tools, ...).
• A pop-up window will appear on your screen asking the “Security Team” to accept the installation and release of a required remote tool.
We therefore ask you to observe the following safety principles:
• Be skeptical if, for example, you are asked by email to do unusual or apparently necessary actions or are directed to pages where you are asked to enter a password or personal data. Please note that the sender address or name in such emails may be fake.
• Check for correctness: Fundamental changes to processes in an organization are announced on its homepage, in team meetings or through internal announcements. If you are unsure, ask the relevant authority. Don't be afraid to ask the responsible office by phone; most of the “ambiguities” can be clarified here.
• Only enter credentials on websites where the address [the expected domain name] appears immediately before the first slash. If you are unsure, enter the web address manually to avoid ending up on a so-called “fake page” (e.g. Coce-lola.xx instead of Coca-lola.xx).
• “Secure” websites are usually indicated by the prefix “https”: https://stp.portal.bka.gv.at/. Unfortunately, it should be mentioned in this context that organizations make the use of “https:” available (almost) free of charge. If you use a “recognized” web browser, it will inform you in the information bar whether it is a “secure” site (green lock, tick, etc.).
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Example of an insecure address:
https://webhoster-a.com/stp.portal.bka.gv.at (Other domain name before the first slash)
https://bka.gv.at@irgendetwasanderes.com/ (Before the first The forward slash is “irgendetwasanderes.com”, not “bka.gv.at”)
• Please pay attention to the spelling of the web addresses you submit. If the addresses are “known” to you, be sure to enter them manually or from your records using copy/paste. If in doubt, under no circumstances should you accept web links that were sent to you by email.
• Neither a credit institution nor a reputable representative of a business partner will ever ask you via email or pop-up to click on a link or confirm personal information. Under no circumstances should you submit a copy of your ID.
• If you receive emails from companies, acquaintances and friends, please always look at the entire email address and pay particular attention that both the name part and the domain listed after the @ correspond to the email provider you know about it. Perpetrators often use identical email addresses using different domains.
• If you have entered your access data on a website that appears to be insecure, change your password immediately and inform the IT department responsible for you in order to document and record any unauthorized access during this period.
If you receive emails that are inexplicable or incomprehensible in this context, you are welcome to contact the C4 reporting office at against-cybercrime@bmi.gv.at for clarification. Expert officials will look into the matter and attempt to assess the facts at hand and recommend appropriate steps to be taken.
Related to the topic: Coronavirus – fake news spread: two people from Tennengau convicted
Source: Federal Ministry of Austria
Article image: Ronnie Chua / Shutterstock
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