Criminals are currently attempting to exploit the population’s general anxiety due to the corona virus. Using fake e-mails, they are trying to spread malware.
The purported sender of the e-mails sent out is the Bundesamt für Gesundheit (BAG, Public Health Office). The Melde- und Analysestelle Informationssicherung MELANI is urging the population to ignore any such e-mails, never to open any attachments and under no circumstances click on any links. If such annexes are opened or links clicked, this results in the installation of malware. In turn, this enables attackers to remotely access computers, for instance to capture access data such as passwords.
Please be careful when handling e-mails:
- Don’t ever open any annexes straight away or click on any links, even if the sender looks familiar. If in doubt, verify the authenticity of both e-mail and attachments with the purported sender of the e-mail via a separate channel (e. g. telephone).
- Should you have opened such an e-mail by mistake, you should immediately switch off your computer. If possible, reinstall your PC, or contact your specialist retailer to help you with this. Then change all your passwords as soon as you can.
