Among the tasks of the National Police in Spain during the epidemic is monitoring online security, and for this reason it has detected some 12,000 new website domains on the coronavirus, which will most likely be used in different scams.
The Police see a clear risk because a large part of the new addresses have been registered at the same time, and by the same entities, which suggests groups of cybercriminals. Most are not active yet, but it is likely that they will show content shortly.
According to José Ángel González, who is deputy operational director of the Spanish National Police, these websites on the coronavirus will have two main objectives: infect computersand other malware-laden devices, or obtain personal and bank details from users, possibly using phishing techniques.
In fact, they have already detected some of these domains working as fraudulent online stores, which even sell fake coronavirus vaccines, something particularly serious in the midst of a he alth crisis.
That 12,000 domains have been registered is in itself an indication. They will probably try to to spread through social networks, WhatsApp, email and other applications, so they need many web addresses as filters detect the above as scams and warn others users of their danger.
In fact, the situation has caused WhatsApp to work on a system to identify hoaxes, which should have been implemented long ago, and now it seems that it will be based on the Google search of the received text.
The National Police took the opportunity to present their advice against fake news, no longer aimed so much at avoiding scams, but against that information false that spreads on the Internet, generating concern or supporting the interests of its authors.
These are the tips he gives to citizens:
In the end, both in the case of scams and fake news, the key is to be cautious and suspicious. The coronavirus epidemic is generating a lot of information, and we must be critical to detect the WhatsApp hoaxes that circulate.
You have to think that, given the open nature of the Internet, for the Police to detect these potentially harmful websites is not enough, since various entities must participate to close them or limit their access. Instead, teaching users to be cautious is more efficient and effective in the long run.
Our advice is Be wary of websites related to the coronavirus, and inform us through known media and the advice of the authorities, without letting ourselves be carried away by worry.
What do you think of this discovery? Do you think that many of the 12,000 coronavirus websites will be used for criminal purposes?
