With lockdowns and holidays looming ahead, many hackers are starting to take advantage and introducing many scams to the already chaotic environment. This comes as more people are using Zoom to connect with their clients and customers.
In recent weeks a phishing scam has emerged from this. Like most phishing, this starts with a malicious actor trawling for emails and login information. Then disguising themselves as Zoom, they send an email, text or a post on social media saying something along the lines of “Your Zoom account has been suspended” or a prompt to “reschedule a meeting.” If the person is not careful and they click on it, they will inadvertently download malicious software onto your computer, granting access to your Zoom account.
The Better Business Bureau has noted that because of Zoom’s huge base and ubiquity, it is a prime target for scammers. “The bureau reports that scammers registered nearly 2,550 Zoom-related domains earlier this year.”[1]
In order to avoid such calamity, it is recommended to activated dual factor authentication for your Zoom account. You should also verify the emails that you are receiving information from including Zoom links. Finally, DO NOT open anything in the emails without verification, many phishing scams rely on this to activate their malware.
Click here for more insights on how to protect your data.
[1] https://www.kxan.com/news/crime/zoom-invite-scam-dont-click-that-phony-reactivate-or-reschedule-link/