Cyber criminals use moments of uncertainty to trick us into clicking unsafe links or files. Often, they take advantage of topics in the news. Unsurprisingly, they are exploiting concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus with scams like:
- Fake coronavirus updates, tracking maps, and inside information hosted on webpages that distribute malware
- Emails about updated policies that require you to open an unsafe attachment
- Phony charities soliciting donation
Click Wisely when you see any email referencing coronavirus.
Do not trust unsolicited information until you verify the source of that information.
Be suspicious of sensational headlines in email.
If an email contains a news headline that catches your attention, skip the link and do a web search for the headline. If the news is true, you can find out without making a risky click.
Confirm with the sender before opening any unexpected attachments.
If you receive an unexpected email containing an attachment, don’t open it or click links in the email. Verify the email with the sender by call or text, or by visiting the official website directly.
Verify charities before donating.
If you wish to donate to help those in need, make sure your donation gets to those in need by confirming a charity’s legitimacy at https://www.charitynavigator.org/.
Work securely everywhere.
Find IT help for working remotely at https://huit.harvard.edu/remote. When using a personal computer, be sure to follow our security guidelines for personal devices.
Official sources of coronavirus information
Harvard University - https://www.harvard.edu/coronavirus
US Centers for Disease Control - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/
World Health Organization - https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
Federal Trade Commission Coronavirus Scams Page: http://ftc.gov/coronavirus