How the Most Common Cybercrime Could Affect You

Cybercrime is on the rise in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and phishing has taken center stage.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

Undoubtedly, the coronavirus pandemic has impacted how we live and work daily. These disruptions have resulted in a dependence on cyber technology more than ever before. This is especially true in communication since online resources are increasingly needed for people to keep in touch with family and friends, as well as for their occupational needs.

Scammers and other cybercriminals have been swift to take advantage of the crisis and the trust we have developed for online resources and platforms. One way they are achieving this is by using the ongoing predicament as a means of disseminating health-related and safety information as a cover to steal personal data through malware.

Here are just some of the statistics.

• According to the FBI, the most common cybercrime in 2020 was phishing. The number of complaints they received was 11 times more than the complaints they received in 2016.
• According to HM Revenue and Customs, a 73% increase in email phishing attacks occurred in the first six months after the pandemic hit the UK.
• ZDNet did a study and found that 90% of newly…