3 C’s of present day: Coronavirus, Cyber Attacks and Cyber Criminals?

It is not hoax that cyber attacks will increase in this present condemning
situation of COVID-19. It is crucial for all of us to stay home and stay safe
physically. There is another precaution we must take while sitting /working at /from
that we prevent ourselves from cyber attacks. Cyber criminals are always ahead of us.
They could take undue advantage to have wrongful gain of the global present
situation.

Undoubtedly, Working remotely; work from home could lead to several cyber attacks
if we will not take precautionary steps at both employee(s) and employer(s) side.
Underneath are few basic things to keep in mind to minimise the risk of cyber
attacks:

Employees

1. Be extra attentive about phishing emails

2. Practice good cyber regimen
3. Only use secured WiFi
4. Report lost /stolen electronic devices immediately- You may use https://ceir.gov.in
5. Don’t post photos /videos online when you work from home
6. Don’t install unnecessary apps /tools from internet
7. Update Your Emergency Contacts
8. Don’t respond to interview calls , You may ask to get good hike by your well-
VISHER
9. Check privacy levels and firewall settings on your personal computers
10. Don’t be NETQUOOF - Always verify online content before broadcast within
and outside your organisation

Employers

1. Set up secured remote access only

2. Do remember C x I x A = 0 ( Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability)
3. Remind employees not to use personal assets for official work - Restrict BYOD /
CYOD till further government notification on emergency situation
4. Update your emergency contact information
5. Don’t put your employees at risk by asking them to work at odd hours- Limit work
by SOD (Separation of duties)
6. Plan to implement VPN to make intra-communication secure
7. Don’t hold employee’s salary /genuine requests - Remember disgruntled
employees theory
8. Plan to implement right to disconnect for all employees
9. Follow information security practices and procedures along-with lawful directions/
orders by Government.
10. Updates and train employees on regular basis about the seriousness of
COVID-19 and it’s relation with Cyber Security

To conclude, there is no doubt that we all are in an emergency situation wherein we

all have to take care of each other by taking as much as precautionary steps own our
own. This present situation made us to think the worst level of CyberWarfare.

Just imagine, if we started receiving cyber attacks along-with COVID-19. Are we

ready to handle such a devastated state.

Stay secure, smart and safe as human being is the weakest link in Cyber-World.

Thanks.

PUNEET NAGPAL
M.S. Cyber Law & Information Security,
B.Tech, LL.B., P.G. Dip. in Human Rights
(Advocate & Cyber Legal Consultant)