How to Protect Yourself from Cybersecurity Scams During the CrowdStrike Outage
Cybersecurity experts worldwide are sounding the alarm about a surge in opportunistic hacking attempts following the IT outage. While the cause of the CrowdStrike outage is not confirmed to be malicious, cybercriminals are seizing the opportunity to deceive unsuspecting individuals.
Authorities in the UK and Australia are cautioning the public to stay alert for fake emails, calls, and websites posing as official sources. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz advises users to verify the authenticity of communications before downloading any fixes.
In a blog post, Kurtz emphasized the importance of relying on official channels like their blog and technical support for updates. This sentiment was echoed by cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt, who warned that scammers are taking advantage of the situation to dupe people.
The Australian Signals Directorate issued a warning about hackers distributing counterfeit software fixes under the guise of CrowdStrike. They urge IT professionals to only seek information and assistance from CrowdStrike's official website.
Following suit, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre is urging vigilance against suspicious communications impersonating CrowdStrike or Microsoft support. Hackers are exploiting the fear and uncertainty surrounding the outage to launch phishing attacks and deceive individuals and organizations.
According to Secureworks researchers, there has been a notable increase in CrowdStrike-themed domain registrations, indicating a rise in fraudulent websites designed to deceive users into downloading malicious software. While IT managers are the primary targets, individuals must also exercise caution and rely on official sources for information.
In times of crisis, scammers adapt their tactics to exploit vulnerabilities and capitalize on the situation. By staying informed and vigilant, you can protect yourself from falling victim to cybersecurity scams during the CrowdStrike outage.