You’ve all likely seen various news reports and online posts about the coronavirus epidemic – you may have even received email alerts on how you can protect yourself from being infected.

It turns out cyber criminals are using our curiosity to bait us with fake documents purporting to inform us about coronavirus while actually infecting our systems with malware.

Kaspersky reports it has come across various PDF, mp4 and docx files with titles implying they contain tips on coronavirus protection and detection, and developments in the spread of the virus – but in fact contain various malware, including Trojans and worms, which can damage the unsuspecting receiver’s system, and infiltrate their network.

Some of the malicious files Kaspersky has detected include those with the following names:

• Worm.VBS.Dinihou.r

• Worm.Python.Agent.c

• UDS: DangerousObject.Multi.Generic

• Trojan.WinLNK.Agent.gg

• Trojan.WinLNK.Agent.ew

• HEUR: Trojan.WinLNK.Agent.gen

• HEUR: Trojan.PDF.Badur.b

While we’re on high alert about the spread of coronavirus itself – it is timely to remember the basics of protecting yourself and your business from being infected by these types of cyber viruses, including by not clicking on suspicious links or opening files from unknown sources, alerting your employees to the risk, and being generally vigilant about opening emails or files that purport to contain advice about coronavirus.