Cybersecurity in a Time of Physical Distancing

As if we didn’t have enough to worry about, the COVID-19 pandemic, by forcing millions of people to work and go to school online, also has increased the security risks we face. Cyber criminals are looking to exploit the current crisis by targeting an already anxious population, putting important data at risk. Attackers set up websites and send messages with coronavirus-related information to trick victims into clicking on links that download malware. Phishing attacks have increased, taking advantage of people’s already heightened state of fear and urgency, and employees are working from home using personal devices that may lack the basic security features of their work computers.

ITIF hosted a video webinar to discuss the cybersecurity risks facing workers, students, and organizations during the pandemic and how policymakers can help them become more resilient and better prepared to face future challenges.