Top UN official warns malicious emails on rise amidst coronavirus pandemic

The UN disarmament chief warned Friday that cyber crime is on the rise, with a 600 per cent increase in malicious emails during the coronavirus pandemic.

Izumi Nakamitsu told an informal meeting of the UN Security Council that the coronavirus crisis is moving the world toward increased technological innovation and online collaboration.

But she said “there have also been worrying reports of (cyber) attacks against health care organizations and medical research facilities worldwide.”
The high representative for disarmament affairs said growing digital dependency has increased the vulnerability to cyberattacks, and it is estimated that one such attack takes place every 39 seconds.