who flag

World Health Organization Sees Dramatic Uptick in Cyber Attacks

Nearly 450 active email addresses and passwords used by WHO staff have been leaked online, and the public has received email scams from people posing as staff.

Ever since the start of the COVID-19 attacks, the World Health Organization (WHO) has seen a dramatic uptick in the number of cyber attacks affecting its staff, as well as email scams targeting the public.

Nearly 450 active WHO email addresses and passwords have been leaked online, according to the organization. Thousands of those email addresses belong to others working on the novel coronavirus response.

The WHO system was not put at risk, because the leaked credentials and data was not recent information. An older extranet system was impacted, which is used by current and retired staff. WHO partners were also impacted. WHO staff is now migrating affected systems to a more secure authentication system.

The scammers were impersonating WHO in emails, and have increasingly targeted the general public as a means to channel donations to a fictitious fund and not the organization’s COVID-19 Solidary Response Fund. The current number of cyber attacks is five times more than the number directed at WHO last year.

“Ensuring the security of health information for member states and the privacy of users interacting with us a priority for WHO at all times, but also particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful for the alerts we receive from member states and the private sector. We are all in this fight together,” said Bernardo Mariano, WHO’s chief information officer.

WHO is working with the private sector to establish more robust internal systems and to strengthen security measures and is educating staff on cybersecurity risks.

“Organizations such as WHO will be targets because they are very visible to the current crisis and will be taking in large numbers of new, global contact details as they bring everyone together to work toward a solution,” said Laurence Pitt, cybersecurity marketing and strategy director at Juniper Networks.

Pitt added: “For an attacker, the theft of email addresses from WHO is valuable because they would expect for the list to contain up-to-date and relevant details that can be leveraged in the generation of scams and phishing campaigns. But migration of affected systems after an attack is a response, not a solution. Any organization dealing with current, relevant personal details should be reviewing data security and looking to airgap, encrypt or add additional security, in order to prevent a breach from occurring in the first place.”

Asking the public to remain vigilant, WHO staff warn against fraudulent emails. They also recommend the use of reliable sources to obtain factual information about COVID-19 and other health issues.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.