Delhi Police Issues List Of “Dangerous” Websites Exploiting Coronavirus Scare

DCP of Delhi Police’s cybercrime department, on March 25, released a list of potential “dangerous” websites exploiting the interest and panic around coronavirus. The list has 13 such websites including coronavirusstatus[.]space, coronavirus-map[.]com and blogcoronacl.canalcero[.]digital, among others.

The DCP did not elaborate on the threats and concerns with the website, though it may be a case of malware and phishing as seen in previous coronavirus-related hoax websites.

Following domains are listed as potentially dangerous domains, please don’t open them:-

coronavirusstatus[.]space
coronavirus-map[.]com
blogcoronacl.canalcero[.]digital
coronavirus[.]zone
coronavirus-realtime[.]com
coronavirus[.]app
bgvfr.coronavirusaware[.]xyz
(1/2)#StaySafe

— DCP Cybercrime (@DCP_CCC_Delhi) March 25, 2020

However, the department did share a CNN news piece, which highlighted that the cybercriminals are trying to cash in on the coronavirus pandemic. As per the reports, cybercriminals are exploiting coronavirus scare by trying to hack into people’s email, social media, and banking accounts.

Cybersecurity intelligence firm FireEye highlighted that hackers have resorted to emails proposing to provide additional information about the coronavirus. These phishing attempts have been designed to trick people into handing over their passwords.

Ben Read, senior manager at FireEye, explained that hackers and scammers try to exploit all crises, events and current affairs, but it’s always the same tactic with a different coat of paint. “If you get an email that looks like it is from the WHO (World Health Organization) and you don’t normally get emails from the WHO, you should be cautious,” Read said.

India has been the second most cyberattacks affected country between 2016 to 2018, as per the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) report. The report highlighted that the average cost for a data breach (in India) has increased by 7.9% since 2017. Currently, the average cost per breached record is mounting to INR 4,552 ($64).

Meanwhile, banking, credit and debit card frauds are also at a high in India. As per an RBI report released in 2019, India had registered over 972 card fraud cases every three days in the financial year 2017-2018. The banking sector reportedly lost approximately INR 168.74 Cr to organised crime directed at ATMs in the past three years till the first quarter of FY19.

Keeping everything aside, the self-quarantine mode has brought a new side of the state and central government’s departments. Now everyone has resorted to social media to disseminate information faster. For instance, Gurugram Police tweeted out the list of online delivery services, which is allowed to be operational in the region.

All officers of Gurugram Police have been directed that following online delivery services goods shall be allowed to operate. pic.twitter.com/Jx5Ln4NrE8

— Gurugram Police (@gurgaonpolice) March 25, 2020

That came after several delivery persons accused the police of harassing them for being on the job. Even though essential ecommerce services are allowed to function during the 21-day lockdown period.