Hackers Launch Election-Related Phishing Attacks; Zoom Settles FTC Investigation
Good day. Hackers are continuing to launch phishing activities relating to the U.S. presidential election, launching spam campaigns that prey on anxieties surrounding the close-fought race and subsequent disputes over vote counting, WSJ Pro Cybersecurity reports.
Researchers say they are tracking fraudulent emails that claim to have information on election interference, but really contain malware designed to steal a victim’s information. Companies specializing in email protection also say that they have seen greater volumes of election-related spam than usual since Election Day last Tuesday.
Also today: Zoom settles a privacy investigation with regulators; the FBI warns that programs’ source codes are being stolen; and a medical center in Vermont begins restoring services after a cyberattack in October.
Election Spam
Hackers continue to take advantage of election-related anxiety to launch cyberattacks by email at greater volumes than would usually be expected, security companies say.
Fraudulent emails that attempt to lure users into clicking on links that deliver ransomware and other viruses are often designed around current affairs, such as the coronavirus pandemic, natural disasters and elections. They usually pose as authorities, or say the emails include attachments that promise new information, but which are actually infected with malware.
The number of attacks related to this year’s U.S. presidential election and launched since Election Day on Nov. 3 has been markedly higher than normal, said Sherrod DeGrippo, senior director of threat research and detection at Proofpoint Inc., a cybersecurity company that specializes in email protection.
“While we have seen this kind of activity during past events, this year the volumes and social-engineering lures are more persistent and in higher volumes,” Ms. DeGrippo said. “As long as uncertainty exists around the election—including any attempts to widely sow distrust in the electoral process—we will likely see actors use these themes in their lures.”
While many hackers send out vast numbers of…
