Security News > 2020 > April > Internet Overseers Seek Crackdown on Coronavirus Website Scams
The agency that oversees online addresses on Tuesday called for those issuing website addresses to vigilantly thwart cyber scams exploiting coronavirus fears.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers took the unusual step of firing off a letter to "Registrars" entrusted with the business of issuing website names around the world.
The deadly coronavirus and dramatic steps taken to combat its spread have led to "An explosion of cybercrime" with criminals preying on people desperate for ways to protect themselves and those they love, according to recent report prepared for ICANN. Online criminals typically use deceptively named websites for phishing, spam or malware campaigns, the report concluded.
In March, at least 100,000 new website names were registered using terms such as "Covid," "Corona," and "Virus," according to the report.
The latest warning was issued to the hundreds of internet registrars around the world accredited by ICANN to issue new website domain names.