Hackers exploiting widespread fear of the Coronavirus outbreak to spread malware

Hackers are now targeting the widespread fear of the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak to spread malware.

Multiple studies over the past week have found that hackers are spreading malware disguised as emails from welfare organisations, containing important notifications or instructions to fight the malware.

IBM security’s X-force initially discovered a similar campaign targeted at Japan. Users were sent emails disguised as official emails from welfare organisations, informing the public about the outbreak.

The text would usually contain notification about the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in specific prefectures with a word document, IBM had reported.

The document, in reality, is a Microsoft Office 365 file that contained macros script to install the Emotet Trojan malware in the device.