Lockdown Sees Spurt in Cybercrimes

were phishing attacks with sophisticated campaigns that could easily snare even the most educated users. These attacks were aimed at heightening users’ fears and creating a sense of urgency to take action. K7 Labs noticed phishing attacks where scamsters posed as representatives of the United States Department of the Treasury, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Users were encouraged to visit links that would automatically download malware on the host computer such as the Agent Tesla keylogger or Lokibot informationstealing malware, infamous banking Trojans such as Trickbot or Zeus Sphinx, and even disastrous ransomware.

Otherattacksincludedinfectedcovid-19 Android apps like Coronasafetymask that scam users with promises of masks for an upfront payment; the spyware app Project Spy; and seemingly genuine apps that are infected with dangerous malware like banking Trojans such as Ginp, Anubis and Cerberus.

J Kesavardhanan¸ Founder and CEO of K7 Computing, said, “Covid-19 has created an ideal situation for various threat actors to target individuals and enterprises alike. The panic caused by the stringent lockdown measures and rapid spread of this virus has left many people looking for more information on the situation. Threat actors exploit this fear to their advantage and scam users into downloading malicious software and divulging sensitive information like banking codes. The need to be cyber cautious has never been greater. This is more so in the case of corporates who have adopted a work from home policy hurriedly without adequate cyber hygiene. We have seen an increase in attacks on enterprises and SME employees as well.”

Experts at K7 Labs forecast that the number of Covid-themed attacks will continue to increase till normalcy returns. Social engineering attacks targeted at winning users’ trust will gain momentum. Healthcare institutions, well-known government offices, and international organisations will continue to be a prime target throughout the pandemic. ■

team@mymobile.co.in

music consumption trends and demand for related devices have swelled. Since it takes 66 days for any new habit to become automatic, we expect these trends to tag along and become more robust post the lockdown phase. Some of these trends are:

Wireless gadgets: Bluetooth speakers have been rocking the audio industry for quite some time. Additional bass, echo, treble, attached microphones etc. are replacing traditional party equipments. Who knew that wireless Bluetooth speakers could become a saving grace during the testing times such as Covid-19? Available in all kinds of shapes and sizes, Bluetooth speakers aren’t merely party material but constitute a more flexible device category. One can plug it in any corner of the home and play suitable music. Sitting in the balcony with some breezy music in the background or performing morning or evening prayers, users are embracing Bluetooth speakers for more of their personal experience rather than saving it only for parties.

DIY music composing devices and apps: Thanks to many Bluetooth speakers with karaoke as well as recording functions, we can sing our favourite songs and save them too. For instance, the majority of Bluetooth speakers by Bose, Zoook, Sony and others offer these functions for users to record their songs. Also, many mobile apps allow users to upload songs and adjust the tone, pitch, etc. of the song to give it a professional touch. The lockdown phase is allowing many talented singers to compose their music and also share it with online audience that is receptive to fresh and original content now more than ever. ■