Beware of COVID-19-related phishing attack: Here’s how to safeguard yourself from online fraud

With tension between India and China at an all-time high, state-run Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), last week, warned citizens to be wary of COVID-19 related phishing scams in the coming days.

What exactly is online phishing?

Phishing is a criminal offence in which internet attackers convince users to disclose sensitive information ranging from bank statements to personal identification, using the names of accredited websites as a front. The practice includes sending of spam emails containing malicious links and attachments that steal user data, thus rendering the ploy illegal. Day by day, these scams grow in deceitfulness and innovation.