Covid-19 Worsens Corporate Cyber-Security Woes
Gulf Business|September 2020
As organisations struggle to spread the security umbrella to remote workers, experts urge renewed commitment to cybersecurity best practices
David Ndichu
Covid-19 Worsens Corporate Cyber-Security Woes
An authentic-looking email arrives with the subject line, Covid-19. The sender appears to be the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, a trustworthy name in healthcare. There’s either an attachment or a link that promises “further information” or such.

Such emails seem completely genuine to the uninformed eye. Only with deeper analysis does a malware payload hiding behind the link or attachment become apparent, capable of giving hackers access to the organisation’s network and placing the company’s entire data at risk.

Such cybersecurity nightmare scenarios have confronted many organisations in the wake of Covid-19.

Cybercriminals went to work in the days and weeks following the pandemic, creating bogus domains, which they used to send phishing emails promoting either fake treatments for the coronavirus or some other prevention protocols, observes Tamer El Refaey, chief cyber security strategist, Emerging Markets, Micro Focus.

The result is that employees, desperate to get their hands on critical health information, fell for Covid-19 related phishing attacks.

As the Covid situation evolved, the threat landscape also kept pace. Threat actors are carefully following each development around the coronavirus and launching attacks that closely mimic new incoming information, observes Emile Abou Saleh, regional director, Middle East and Africa at Proofpoint.

“The large number of remote workers across the country presents an inviting target for cybercriminals to pursue in an attempt to compromise victims’ systems and gain access to corporate resources and applications,” he says.

WORK FROM HOME

This story is from the September 2020 edition of Gulf Business.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2020 edition of Gulf Business.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM GULF BUSINESSView All
Green lights
Gulf Business

Green lights

It hasn’t even been a full year that Stellantis, one of the world’s biggest auto companies, has been in existence. Still, its wheels are spinning furiously. Here’s what it has in store for the region

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2021
Purpose through corporate responsibility
Gulf Business

Purpose through corporate responsibility

Every organisation must deeply reflect about whether they are leaving behind a legacy or a liability, says Abdulaziz AlSowailim, EY MENA chairman and CEO

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2021
Analysing the layers of a coconut
Gulf Business

Analysing the layers of a coconut

When we have a sense of clarity as to our purpose in life, then we institute the correct practices and habits around us, and set realistic and achievable results

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2021
DUNES TO DOMINION
Gulf Business

DUNES TO DOMINION

FOR A COUNTRY RICH IN TRADITION AND DRIVEN BY AMBITION, THE UAE’S JOURNEY DURING THE PAST 50 YEARS HAS BEEN UNPRECEDENTED. WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE NEXT 50?

time-read
9 mins  |
December 2021
Building strong
Gulf Business

Building strong

International investors are boosting Dubai’s residential property market, which has rebounded strongly from the Covid crisis, writes Aarti Nagraj

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2021
CHASING THE AMERCIAN DREAM
Gulf Business

CHASING THE AMERCIAN DREAM

FOR SHAI ZAMANIAN, THE US IS A LAND OF LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES, AN AVENUE HE AIMS TO OPEN FOR FAMILIES WORLDWIDE VIA IMMIGRATION. HERE’S HOW HE IS BRINGING HIS GOAL TO FRUITION

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2021
OBITUARY: JOCELYN HENDERSON (1921-2021)
Gulf Business

OBITUARY: JOCELYN HENDERSON (1921-2021)

THE GRANDE DAME OF ABU DHABI – THE WIFE OF A FORMER DIPLOMAT – PASSED AWAY IN THE UAE CAPITAL AGED 100

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2021
THE DIGITAL DISRUPTORS
Gulf Business

THE DIGITAL DISRUPTORS

IN THE COMING YEARS, THE GCC IS EXPECTED TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SECTORS SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, MANUFACTURING, EDUCATION AND RETAIL, WHICH WILL HELP BOOST THE GROWTH OF ITS NON-OIL ECONOMY

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2021
Signed, sealed, delivered
Gulf Business

Signed, sealed, delivered

Nicolas Baretzki, CEO of Montblanc, partnered with one of the world’s most recognisable luxury brands, Ferrari, earlier this year. Here’s where the partnership, and the German company as well, is headed next

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2021
UP, UP AND AWAY
Gulf Business

UP, UP AND AWAY

AS THE FIRST IN-PERSON AIRSHOW TO TAKE PLACE SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF THE PANDEMIC, THE EVENT SAW SEVERAL DEALS ANNOUNCED

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2021