Microsoft alerts health centers about VPN cyberattacks throughout coronavirus

Roughly 4 out of 5 Americans are on government-mandated lockdowns, requiring much of them to work from house to prevent spreading out the book coronavirus. Many of these individuals utilize innovation to access their work called virtual personal networks, or VPNs. And now Microsoft states those business — particularly healthcare employees — require to be on the lookout for a various type of dangers that originate from VPNs.

The tech huge took what it states is its first-ever action to alert health centers about the danger. “Ransomware operators have identified a practical target — network devices like gateway and virtual private network (VPN) appliances,” Microsoft stated in a declaration. “These are more difficult to remediate because it can be challenging for defenders to go and extensively hunt to find where the ransomware attackers have established persistence and identify what has been compromised.”

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Microsoft issued its warning because companies around the world are leaning on VPN technology to allow employees stuck at home to access sensitive work apps and documents. It’s concerned that some companies aren’t as prepared for the hackers who attack using that technology.

Microsoft has good reason to be concerned.

At the end of February, just as the western world was ramping up its response to the coronavirus, hotel chain Marriott detected “an unexpected amount of guest information” that had been accessed. All told, it said, data from 5.2 million customers may have been compromised, including names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, birthday days and months, and more. Marriott hasn’t disclosed details of the hack or if VPN software was involved, but it’s a reminder that hackers aren’t slowing their activity during the crisis.

In its blog post Wednesday, Microsoft suggested similar steps to CNET’s own recommendations for remote workers to protect themselves and their company’s data. Among them was to keep applying security updates (something people still regularly don’t do, and is the reason behind some hacks.) Microsoft also recommended companies reduce people’s access to most documents, only people who need it have access to various data.