These Fake Coronavirus Trackers Can Infect Your Computer
The flow of information about COVID-19 is overwhelming and we all want to stay updated, but you should avoid downloading dashboards to track the coronavirus. Some of these coronavirus maps contain serious malware known as AZORult, according to an investigation by Reason Security. Using AZORult, a hacker can steal your browser history and social media login information; gain access to your bank accounts or cryptocurrency vaults and even get full remote access to the infected device.
Reason Labs specifically refers to the Windows software as “Corona Virus Map”, which even uses the same interface as the Johns Hopkins University tracker we reviewed last week to look more legitimate. If you have installed “Corona Virus Map” at any time, uninstall it and immediately scan for viruses. It’s also worth running a scan if you’ve recently installed any other coronavirus-related apps or software; hackers are nothing more than opportunists and it is likely that the Corona Virus Map is just one of many coronavirus-related scams . If you are adamant about getting constant and up-to-date updates on the spread of the virus, I suggest bookmarking the official Johns Hopkins tracker and use only that and stick to trusted online sources .
However, here’s another suggestion: maybe don’t use trackers at all. To be clear, I’m not advocating ignorance or saying it’s nothing to worry about, but stress and anxiety wreak havoc on our mental and physical health and weaken the immune system. Continuous analysis of the spread of COVID-19 is a major stressor . Try to log out and find some peace of mind – the latest news and statistics will stay there if you check back later. Heck, you can even use that time to find a vaccine by playing these video games instead of staring at the latest statistics all day.