The coronavirus has infected more than 450,000 people worldwide, and now cybersecurity experts are warning that the pandemic could also affect computer. Many companies that typically handle sensitive and confidential information in their offices are recommending that employees work remotely in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus. But this can make them more vulnerable to hackers, especially if employees browse specific sites that they might visit when not under the supervision of their bosses, such as porn sites. Porn is a favorite tool of hackers, and it can become even more effective if employees at a company decide that what is called NSFW is a safe option when working remotely in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. But in reality, NSFW is not safe.
According to Tyler Moffitt, a threat research analyst at Internet security firm Webroot, adult sites have always been in the top 3 categories of sites hosting malicious content, so it is very likely that malicious attacks, given that people will tend to visit porn sites more often during quarantine. After all, cybercriminals are taking advantage of the opportunities presented to them, especially during critical periods like the Coronavirus pandemic.
Pornhub ,the most popular porn site, says that traffic could actually prove dangerous in conjunction with the Coronavirus pandemic.
It is worth noting that in the last two weeks, cyberattacks targeting Americans have increased significantly, as the world's largest hacker community estimates that Americans are now working outside their corporate firewalls.
According to Tom Kellermann, head of cybersecurity at software company VMware, it's not just visitors to such sites who are at risk of being hacked, as remote work itself poses risks. Kellermann also points out that corporate firewalls can be extended to employees' homes via virtual private networks (VPNs), which some companies have designed to provide greater security when working remotely.
According to Peter Bauer, CEO of Mimecast, there are frequent scams that are promoted through emails posing as Costco, luring people to stock up on products at a critical time. Hackers clearly don’t want to sell products like toilet paper and Purell. Bauer also warns about emails that purport to be from the federal government, offering “relief” checks if users provide their bank account. Bauer notes that some hackers may be more active now because they may be feeling desperate. In particular, there are many hackers whose daily lives have been disrupted, so they are spending a lot more time in front of a computer. Bauer predicts that cyberattacks will continue for at least a few more weeks.
Andy Ellis, chief security officer at Akamai Technologies, said there is no perfect defense against hackers, but employees can mitigate the risk by practicing what’s known as “digital hygiene.” Good digital hygiene can include clearing out old documents from Dropbox or Google Drive. Changing passwords can also help, and experts recommend using work-appropriate devices whenever possible, as personal devices may have weaker protection. Another piece of advice experts give is to stay away from porn sites.
