UN Reports Sharp Increase In Cybercrimes Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
The head of the United Nations counterterrorism chief, Vladimir Voronkov, has said that there has been a 350% increase in phishing websites in the first quarter of this year. Hackers mostly targeted hospitals and health care systems and thus hindered their work responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There has been a tremendous increase in cyber-crimes in the last few months,” Vladimir Voronkov told the UN Security Council that the upsurge in phishing sites was part of a significant rise in cybercrime in recent months. He said, “Global experts don’t yet fully understand the impact and consequences of the pandemic on global peace and security, and more specifically on organized crime and terrorism.”
“In view of #UNODC’s broad criminal justice mandates addressing terrorism & organized crime, building the capacities to deal with these threats represents a key priority of our support to Member States” — Executive Director @GhadaFathiWaly. Full statement: https://t.co/mrTQidDhRM pic.twitter.com/o8V6nxPBIN
— UN Office on Drugs & Crime (@UNODC) August 6, 2020
Why are terrorists doing this?
Undersecretary-General Voronkov said that the discussions showed a shared understanding and concern that terrorists are generating funds from illicit trafficking in drugs, goods, natural resources and antiquities, as well as kidnapping for ransom, extorting and committing other heinous crimes. He added, “UN member nations are rightly focused on tackling the health emergency and humanitarian crisis caused by COVID-19.” He urged member nations not to forget the threat of terrorism.
What is a phishing website and how does it work?
Phishing is a cyber-attack that uses disguised email as a weapon. The goal is to trick the email recipient into believing that the message is something they want or need — a request from their bank, for instance, or a note from someone in their company — and to click a link or download an attachment.