• Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
MUST READ

U.S. CISA adds Citrix NetScaler ADC and Gateway flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

UK NCA arrested four people over M&S, Co-op cyberattacks

 | 

PerfektBlue Bluetooth attack allows hacking infotainment systems of Mercedes, Volkswagen, and Skoda

 | 

Qantas data breach impacted 5.7 million individuals

 | 

DoNot APT is expanding scope targeting European foreign ministries

 | 

Nippon Steel Solutions suffered a data breach following a zero-day attack

 | 

Iranian group Pay2Key.I2P ramps Up ransomware attacks against Israel and US with incentives for affiliates

 | 

Hackers weaponize Shellter red teaming tool to spread infostealers

 | 

Microsoft Patch Tuesday security updates for July 2025 fixed a zero-day

 | 

Italian police arrested a Chinese national suspected of cyberespionage on a U.S. warrant

 | 

U.S. CISA adds MRLG, PHPMailer, Rails Ruby on Rails, and Synacor Zimbra Collaboration Suite flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

IT Worker arrested for selling access in $100M PIX cyber heist

 | 

New Batavia spyware targets Russian industrial enterprises

 | 

Taiwan flags security risks in popular Chinese apps after official probe

 | 

U.S. CISA adds Google Chromium V8 flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

Hunters International ransomware gang shuts down and offers free decryption keys to all victims

 | 

SECURITY AFFAIRS MALWARE NEWSLETTER ROUND 52

 | 

Security Affairs newsletter Round 531 by Pierluigi Paganini – INTERNATIONAL EDITION

 | 

North Korea-linked threat actors spread macOS NimDoor malware via fake Zoom updates

 | 

Critical Sudo bugs expose major Linux distros to local Root exploits

 | 
  • Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
  • Home
  • Breaking News
  • Hacking
  • NASA warns of a significant increase in cyber attacks during Coronavirus outbreak

NASA warns of a significant increase in cyber attacks during Coronavirus outbreak

Pierluigi Paganini April 08, 2020

This week, NASA sent out a memo to its personnel warning of a significant increase in the cyberattacks during the Coronavirus outbreak.

NASA sent out a memo to its personnel warning of a significant increase in cyberattacks on the agency while its employees are in smart-working due to the Coronavirus outbreak. According to the Agency, roughly 75 percent of its employees are currently working from home.

The memo was obtained by the website SpaceRef, it warns of both phishing attacks and malware-based attacks. According to the advisory issued by NASA, the number of phishing attempts doubled in the past few days, at the same time the number of malware attacks on its systems has grown exponentially.

“A new wave of cyber-attacks is targeting Federal Agency Personnel, required to telework from home, during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. During the past few weeks, NASA’s Security Operations Center (SOC) mitigation tools have prevented success of these attempts.” reads the memo.

  • “Here are some examples of what’s been observed in the past few days: Doubling of email phishing attempts
  • Exponential increase in malware attacks on NASA systems
  • Double the number of mitigation-blocking of NASA systems trying to access malicious sites (often unknowingly) due to users accessing the Internet”
nasa coronavirus

NASA experts believe that the attacks will continue during the pandemic, the good news is that the SOC of the agency doubled the number of blocked attempts to access malicious websites.

Employes must be vigilant while accessing NASA systems, the agency is particularly concerned with nation-state actors that are carrying out Coronavirus-themed attacks.

“NASA employees and contractors should be aware that nation-states and cyber criminals are actively using the COVID-19 pandemic to exploit and target NASA electronic devices, networks, and personal devices.” continues the memo. “Some of their goals include accessing sensitive information, user names and passwords, conducting denial of service attacks, spreading disinformation, and carrying out scams,”

NASA also warns of cyber attacks launched by cyber criminals, they are using an increasing number of spam messages using malicious attachments and links to fraudulent websites.

Most of the attacks observed in this period use the COVID19 as a lure, the agency observed fake donations, updates on virus transmissions, safety measures, tax refunds, fake vaccines, and disinformation campaigns.

The memo invited NASA personnel to use VPN and regularly visit a dedicated website that provides information related to working during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Below the list of suggestions included in the agency’s memo:

 Use the NASA VPN, prior to beginning to work. This allows your system to leverage ALL of NASA’s security protections.

  • Refrain from opening your personal email or non-work related social media on your NASA computer systems/devices. Also be cautious before clicking on links in text messages and social media.
  • Keep your personal email and social media separate from NASA.
  • Ensure your NASA electronic devices receive required patches and updates. 
  • Utilize approved and authorized software, video, and teleconferencing systems and protect access instructions to them. 
  • Continue to protect NASA sensitive information in accordance with NASA policies, including encrypting NASA emails containing sensitive information. 
  • Do not reveal personal or financial information in emails, and do not respond to email solicitations for this information. 
  • Review the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Tips on Avoiding Social Engineering & Phishing Scams at: https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST04-014.
[adrotate banner=”9″][adrotate banner=”12″]

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Coronavirus)

[adrotate banner=”5″]

[adrotate banner=”13″]


facebook linkedin twitter

covid19 Hacking information security news it security it security news Pierluigi Paganini Security News

you might also like

Pierluigi Paganini July 11, 2025
U.S. CISA adds Citrix NetScaler ADC and Gateway flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
Read more
Pierluigi Paganini July 10, 2025
UK NCA arrested four people over M&S, Co-op cyberattacks
Read more

leave a comment

newsletter

Subscribe to my email list and stay
up-to-date!

    recent articles

    U.S. CISA adds Citrix NetScaler ADC and Gateway flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

    Hacking / July 11, 2025

    UK NCA arrested four people over M&S, Co-op cyberattacks

    Cyber Crime / July 10, 2025

    PerfektBlue Bluetooth attack allows hacking infotainment systems of Mercedes, Volkswagen, and Skoda

    Hacking / July 10, 2025

    Qantas data breach impacted 5.7 million individuals

    Data Breach / July 10, 2025

    DoNot APT is expanding scope targeting European foreign ministries

    APT / July 10, 2025

    To contact me write an email to:

    Pierluigi Paganini :
    pierluigi.paganini@securityaffairs.co

    LEARN MORE

    QUICK LINKS

    • Home
    • Cyber Crime
    • Cyber warfare
    • APT
    • Data Breach
    • Deep Web
    • Digital ID
    • Hacking
    • Hacktivism
    • Intelligence
    • Internet of Things
    • Laws and regulations
    • Malware
    • Mobile
    • Reports
    • Security
    • Social Networks
    • Terrorism
    • ICS-SCADA
    • POLICIES
    • Contact me

    Copyright@securityaffairs 2024

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT