[Paper Review] Global Pandemics Influence on Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes

Somya Khatri, Aswani Kumar Cherukuri+1 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Feb 24, 2023

Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Studies4 citations

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the surge in cyber threats and cybercrime during the COVID-19 pandemic, linking increased remote work and digital dependency to rising attack vectors. It examines malware, phishing, and ransomware trends, emphasizing the urgent need for resilient cyber infrastructure and proactive security frameworks in post-pandemic digital environments.

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 has caused widespread damage across many areas of life and has made humans more dependent on the internet and technology making us realize the importance of secure remote working environments. While social separation is encouraged during moments of lockdown, online infrastructure has become the central focus for communication, commerce, working, and learning, creating a new challenge and trend for companies to adopt new methods and operating models. The cases of cyber-attacks increased, and fraudsters and cybercriminals took use of this to intensify their illegal activities by taking advantage of remote workers' vulnerabilities and the public's interest in information about the coronavirus. This paper examines the different types of security threats and cyber crimes that people faced in the pandemic time and the need for a safe and secure cyber infrastructure. This paper attempts to analyze the security implications of the issues.

Motivation & Objective

• To investigate the escalation of cyber threats and cybercrime during the global pandemic.
• To analyze how remote work and increased digital dependency created new attack surfaces.
• To identify the types of cyberattacks that surged during pandemic-related lockdowns.
• To evaluate the security implications of accelerated digital transformation in work, education, and commerce.
• To advocate for stronger, adaptive cyber security frameworks in post-pandemic digital ecosystems.

Proposed method

• Conducting a thematic analysis of cyber threats reported during the early pandemic period (2020–2022).
• Categorizing cyberattacks based on common patterns: phishing, malware, ransomware, and social engineering.
• Examining public and private sector responses to emerging threats through digital infrastructure adaptation.
• Analyzing case studies of high-profile cyber incidents linked to pandemic-related fear and misinformation.
• Evaluating the role of remote work vulnerabilities in enabling cybercriminal exploitation.
• Proposing a framework for resilient cyber security in hybrid and remote work models based on observed trends.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How did the shift to remote work during the pandemic affect the frequency and nature of cyberattacks?
• RQ2 Which types of cybercrime saw the most significant increase during the pandemic, and why?
• RQ3 What role did public fear and misinformation about COVID-19 play in enabling cyberattacks?
• RQ4 How did digital transformation in education, healthcare, and commerce amplify cyber risks?
• RQ5 What systemic improvements are needed to secure digital infrastructure in post-pandemic environments?

Key findings

• There was a significant increase in phishing and ransomware attacks during the pandemic, driven by public interest in coronavirus-related information.
• Cybercriminals exploited remote work vulnerabilities, particularly weak authentication and unsecured home networks.
• The number of reported cyber incidents rose sharply in 2020 and 2021, with healthcare and education sectors being primary targets.
• Malware distribution surged through fake websites and email campaigns impersonating health authorities.
• The pandemic accelerated digital adoption without corresponding improvements in cyber hygiene, increasing systemic risk.
• The study concludes that long-term investment in secure digital infrastructure and threat intelligence is essential for future resilience.