Be cautious when clicking on Coronavirus Infection Maps
As if there is not enough negative news surrounding the Coronavirus outbreak in the United States and across the globe, now people need to be aware of malware threats while searching for information online. Be careful to check your sources when searching for data on the spread of COVID-19.
What does the map look like?
It can be difficult to tell the difference between a legitimate resource and the malware infected map. These malicious maps do show maps from legitimate sources on the front end. But in the background they are infecting your computer.
Numbers of confirmed cases in different countries are presented on the left side while stats on deaths and recoveries are on the right. The window appears to be interactive, with tabs for various other related information and links to sources.
https://thehackernews.com/2020/03/coronavirus-maps-covid-19.html
Check the URLs before clicking through to or onto any map showing COVID-19 hotspots.
To be noted, the original coronavirus map hosted online by Johns Hopkins University or ArcGIS is not infect or backdoored in any way and are safe to visit.
https://thehackernews.com/2020/03/coronavirus-maps-covid-19.html
Protecting your computer from Malware
The malware used to infect computers via these malicious maps has been identified as AZORult. It works by storing cookies to collect data from your computer, such as passwords, credit card numbers, and more.
Sources say it will be a challenge to detect and clean infected computers. Running the right malware software is your best bet for detecting and stopping any attack. We recommend Malwarebytes, as it can detect most spyware. However, do NOT fully rely on ANY spyware detection system as nothing is 100% guaranteed. You must remain vigilant online, especially during times of panic when criminals can take advantage of an influx of fear-based research online.
