@article{Lallie_H-2021_27094,
title = {Cyber security in the age of COVID-19 : a timeline and analysis of cyber-crime and cyber-attacks during the pandemic},
author = {Lallie, H. and Shepherd, L. and Nurse, J. and Erola, A. and Epiphaniou, G. and Maple, C. and Bellekens, X.},
month = {jun},
year = {2021},
abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic was a remarkable, unprecedented event which altered the lives of billions of citizens globally resulting in what became commonly referred to as the new-normal in terms of societal norms and the way we live and work. Aside from the extraordinary impact on society and business as a whole, the pandemic generated a set of unique cyber-crime related circumstances which also affected society and business. The increased anxiety caused by the pandemic heightened the likelihood of cyber-attacks succeeding corresponding with an increase in the number and range of cyber-attacks. This paper analyses the COVID-19 pandemic from a cyber-crime perspective and highlights the range of cyber-attacks experienced globally during the pandemic. Cyber-attacks are analysed and considered within the context of key global events to reveal the modus-operandi of cyber-attack campaigns. The analysis shows how following what appeared to be large gaps between the initial outbreak of the pandemic in China and the first COVID-19 related cyber-attack, attacks steadily became much more prevalent to the point that on some days, three or four unique cyber-attacks were being reported. The analysis proceeds to utilise the UK as a case study to demonstrate how cyber-criminals leveraged salient events and governmental announcements to carefully craft and execute cyber-crime campaigns.},
volume = {105},
journal = {Computers & Security},
publisher = {Elsevier},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cose.2021.102248},
}
