KISA "Beware of Cyber Attacks Exploiting Itaewon Tragedy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] The Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) has advised caution against cyberattacks such as hacking emails, phishing, and smishing exploiting the Itaewon tragedy.

On the 1st, KISA announced that it had discovered a malicious document disguised as a report on the recent Itaewon incident response situation. It is expected to induce the installation of malware by exploiting emails or text messages containing incident-related content. Taking advantage of the confusion caused by the incident, hacking emails impersonating government and public institutions, as well as malware distribution through related videos or images, are being attempted.

KISA urged people to prevent hacking emails by accurately verifying the sender's address and not opening emails or attachments from unknown sources. Additionally, it advised refraining from downloading files with unclear origins attached to emails, being suspicious of links that prompt clicks within emails, and always verifying whether the linked website address is legitimate.

To prevent phishing and smishing, it is recommended to avoid clicking on suspicious website addresses and delete them immediately. Personal information such as phone numbers, IDs, and passwords should only be entered on trusted sites, and verification codes should be double-checked as they may be linked to mobile payments.

Furthermore, to strengthen PC and smartphone security, it is emphasized to perform the latest updates on operating systems and frequently used document programs (such as Hangul Word Processor), as well as to update antivirus software and conduct regular scans.

If damage such as malware infection occurs, it is advised to immediately report it to the KISA's Protection Nation website and apply for the 'My PC Care' service for inspection.