The TTU IT Division warns the Lubbock community to remain vigilant for malicious cyber activity seeking to capitalize on the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) topic.

The FBI has seen a marked increase in the number of phishing attempts using COVID-19 themes (source: https://www.ic3.gov/media/2020/200320.aspx). These fraudulent messages typically fall under one of the following categories:

• Messages claiming to come from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), claiming to have new information about the COVID-19 virus;
• Phishing emails claiming to come from government agencies, asking the recipient for personal information in order to receive a government stimulus check. Phishing emails may also claim to be related to:
  • Charitable contributions
  • General financial relief
  • Airline carrier refunds
• Messages selling fraudulent cures, vaccines, testing kits, or other medical equipmentsuch as gloves or respirator masks; 
• Messages directing Android users to install a purported "COVID tracker" app. In reality, this app will lock the user's phone and deny them access until they pay a ransom.

These messages often contain links or attachments that direct users to phishing or malware-infected websites. In some cases, these attempts to steal your identity are very sophisticated, complete with professional logos and fluent grammar.

For official information about the Coronavirus, please visit the CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 website.

The TTU IT Division recommends the following cybersecurity practices to protect yourself and your information resources from these and other email scams:

• Verify the legitimacy of any email solicitation by contacting the organization directly through a trusted contact number; 
• Do not click on links contained within an email, unless you are certain of the sender's identity and expecting the information;
• Do not open attachments,
• Only install mobile apps from the iTunes store or Google Play store. These apps have been vetted and confirmed to be safe by Apple and Google; 
• Delete and do not reply to any suspicious or suspect emails; 
• Update your desktop, laptop, and/or mobile device anti-virus software; and 
• Keep current on critical system updates:
  • Windows: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12373/windows-update-faq
  • macOS: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201541
  • iOS and iPadOS: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204204
  • Android: https://support.google.com/android/answer/7680439?hl=en