The Threat
A typology of cyber attacks reveals the same tactics generally used by cyber criminals, yet with a coronavirus theme in order to lure victims to access malicious websites or open contaminated files. The use of malware includes “remote access Trojans, info stealers, spyware and banking Trojans to compromise networks, harvest data, divert money and build botnets”.
The Victim
Among the victims of the infodemic related cyberattacks is the healthcare sector, which is already under the pressure of having to manage the surge in coronavirus patients. The sector is an attractive target due to the sensitive patient information they store, which equates to a sizeable profit for cyber criminals, and the critical need to provide continues medical care.
The Law
In the current landscape, actors are not held to account for their illicit behaviour in cyberspace, producing a vast accountability gap that must be filled. There are swathes of false information circulating on social media platforms and throughout the digital network without sufficient means to control it. Cybercriminals thrive on this accountability gap which must be stopped in order to stymie the number of cyberattacks against vulnerable individuals and critical services.