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Carthage’s insurance provider has reported a sharp increase in phishing attacks occurring over the past week. Cybercriminals are using public apprehension over the coronavirus outbreak to advance their agendas. Emails purporting to contain information about the spread of the coronavirus will secretly download malware that allows hackers to steal information and deliver additional malware.

The types of emails you may receive to get you to click a malicious link or to open an attachment include fake school and CDC messages, claims that there is a vaccine for sale, promises to keep you informed of ‘latest updates’ on COVID-19, and a map of the spread of the coronavirus that also downloads the AZORult malware. 

What can you do?

  • Use your Carthage.edu email address for all school activities. Carthage email goes through advanced malware filtering, which is stronger than most consumer email platforms.
  • Be careful opening any web links or attachments, even if you know the sender. It may be a compromised sender.
  • Look for “red flags” in emails you receive. Red flags include abnormalities in the sender, topic, links, and content.
  • Check the Library and Information Technology notification page to see if it has been previously identified.
  • Report it to Google administration by clicking Settings -> Report Phishing.

For more information about COVID-19 and Carthage’s response, visit https://www.carthage.edu/carthage-covid-19/.