The WHO faces a 2nd front in the coronavirus fight: hackers
As if the World Health Organization didn't have enough to worry about.
The WHO is currently leading the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected more than 382,000 people and left nearly 17,000 dead as of Tuesday. But it's also contending with more than double the cyberattacks it's used to, along with disinformation campaigns it has to combat, Reuters reports.
One major hacking operation caught and fought off involved a sophisticated attempt to mimic the WHO's email servers and steal system passwords from employees, Reuters learned from cybersecurity expert Alexander Urbelis. Urbelis said he didn't know who was behind the attack, but two sources told Reuters they believed a group of elite hackers known as DarkHotel was responsible. WHO Chief Information Security Officer Flavio Aggio confirmed the attempt happened, but said it was unsuccessful.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
That's just one example among a "more than twofold increase in cyberattacks" the WHO has seen in these trying times, Reuters reports via a senior agency official. And while combating the coronavirus itself is plenty to deal with, the WHO also has to worry about thousands of websites purporting to share COVID-19 advice that is either false or downright malicious — Urbelis says he's seen about 2,000 crop up every day. Read more at Reuters.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Ottawa climate talks: can global plastic problem be solved?
In the spotlight Nations aim to draft world's first treaty on plastic pollution, but resistance from oil- and gas-producing countries could limit scope
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Netherlands split on WFH for sex workers
Speed Read Councils concerned over 'nuisance' of at-home sex work, but others say changes will curb underground sex trade
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'He adored Trump, and then rejected him'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published