The diverse, pan European cyber security ECHO network continues to develop innovative ideas, hands-on
guidance and solutions to tackle the COVID-19 cybersecurity threats.
The first online hackathon organised by the ECHO network took place on 6 April 2020, where experts from 15 members states discussed together in two teams the COVID-19 hackers mind-set. The main conclusion was that this pandemic offers cyber attackers unique opportunities to leverage existing attack tactics, techniques and procedures to exploit new opportunities created by a massive increase of employees working from home, children using home computers for schooling, as well as the human factor and emotions caused by the pandemic. Regardless of the motives behind a hack (profit or societal disruption), there are now ample opportunities and methods to leverage the COVID-19 pandemic to engage in criminal cyber activities.
The ECHO White Paper #1 gives an overview of a number of these.
The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme.