Scammers latch on to anything that grabs the public’s attention.

The corona virus is no different.

Security analyst company DomaintTools discovered new ransomware being used by scammers.

Ransomware is a type of malware infection where the hacker locks down certain programs or features of your device and demands a ransom to unlock it.

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee if you pay the ransom that hackers will do what they promise.

The new ransomware poses as an Android corona virus tracking app called CovidLock.

It’s marketed as a real-time corona virus tracking map.

In reality, when you download the app your device gets overtaken by a ransom note. The ransom demand is $100 in Bitcoin, a digital currency.

Cybersecurity company Reason Labs discovered numerous other threats.

Hackers are injecting malware into corona virus tracking apps for cell phones and computers.

You download an app that claims it has up-to-the-minute data. Behind the scenes the app is stealing your data and putting you at risk for identity theft and worse.

What can you do?

Download apps only from official app stores. This goes for when you’re downloading apps for your phone, tablet, or computer.

Make sure you have antivirus and malware protection on your devices. At this time iPhones and iPads do not allow the installation of antivirus scanners.

For now, the best way to track the corona virus progression is by bookmarking reputable links. The Johns Hopkins University tracking map is at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html .

The CDC address is www.cdc.gov .

Bookmark these links in your internet browser to save you from clicking fraudulent links.