Cybercriminals are known for constantly coming up with new ways to scam us into handing over login details and other sensitive data.
And while you might think your team would spot these attacks, you would be surprised. But unfortunately, we've seen a lot of intelligent people – including many business owners – become victims of these scams over the years.
Everything old is new again, with one of the latest scams being very retro… and that seems to be why people fall for it.
Cybercriminals have gone back to basics. They're sending USB drives in the mail or dropping them outside of businesses.
The packaging and markings on the drives suggest they're from Microsoft (and they are not).
The story goes something like this, an updated version of Microsoft Office Professional Plus is on the drive and needs to be installed immediately to solve a security issue.
Of course, it's a complete lie. Microsoft has confirmed that these aren't genuine and is warning people that it would never send out unsolicited packages of any kind.
When you plug the drive into your computer, it will detect a "virus" and ask you to call a support line so they can assist you.
The scammers pretend to remove the fake virus; after gaining your trust, they'll ask for payment details to help complete your subscription (to their phony security software). FYI: Microsoft has very effective anti-malware software that is included with your copy of Windows.
Yes, it's old-fashioned. But we can see how the combination of a physical USB, the belief it's from Microsoft, and the fake support line would be compelling for someone who is busy and wants to get back to work.
We're expecting elaborate, clever attacks through our email. Our guard is down with this mix of events.
Play it safe and warn everyone in your business about this scam.
Yes, this is also an excellent time to review your software and the staff training you use to protect your business.
#CyberCriminals #DataTheft #NewScam
