The FBI reports scammers are leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic to steal money and personal information, or both in some cases. The general public can protect itself and should do research before clicking on links purporting to provide information on the virus, donating to a charity online or through social media, contributing to a crowdfunding campaign, purchasing products online or giving up your personal information to receive money or other benefits. Schemes include:
·     Fake CDC emails used for phishing
·     Fake government program used for phishing attempts

The holiday shopping season will take on a different look in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of lining up in long lines during the early hours on Black Friday, many consumers will choose to shop online this year.

Ransomware continues to be a hot topic as attacks against large and small organizations continue to rise. Ransomware is a type of malicious software, or malware, which locks a person out of their computer until they pay a sum of money, usually in Bitcoin, which allows for relatively anonymous transactions.

Joseph Dalessandro, an expert and professor in information technology in Tulane University’s School of Professional Advancement, breaks down the top cybersecurity threats and trends in 2020.  For interviews, contact pr@tulane.edu or Roger Dunaway at 504-542-2906.  Dalessandro predicts hackers will continue to focus on what works best and augment it with new and novel methods of attack. Here are his top five cybersecurity trends to watch in 2020.  1.