With several countries including the US and the
UK now approving the use of
Pfizer-BioNTech‘s
Covid-19 vaccine, cybercriminals have sensed an opportunity to lure people into buying fake remedies on the dark web, said a report from
cybersecurity firm Check Point.
Researchers at Check Point said they have found a stream of posts on the darknet from sources claiming to have a range of “coronavirus vaccines” or “coronavirus remedies” for sale.
The range of medicines advertised by these vendors is extensive, with one vendor even showing vaccine availability for $250, said the report.
However, the researchers warned that the remedies advertised on the dark net are likely to be fake.
“All of the vendors we found insist on payment in bitcoin, as it minimises the chance of them being traced, casting further doubt on the authenticity of the medicines they are selling,” Check Point said in a blog post.
In communications with one vendor, they offered to sell an unspecified Covid-19 vaccine for 0.01 BTC (around $300), and claimed that 14 doses were required.
This advice contradicts official announcements which state that some Covid vaccines require two shots, given 3 weeks apart, per person.
In this example, the seller claimed to have stocks of a leading vaccine producers newly-approved vaccine available for sale and delivery from the UK, US and Spain.
Another vendor on the dark web was found offering chloroquine as a regular coronavirus “treatment”, for only $10 with the claim that “Hydroxychloroquine, a medicine for malaria that has been touted as a treatment for coronavirus.”
This follows statements from US President Donald Trump who touted the use of hydroxychloroquine to ward off coronavirus, in contradiction to the advice from his own public health officials.
Masks of 2020: The good, the bad, the weird
Masks: The most important fashion accessories
2020 might have started with renewed and interesting fashion goals, but as the year progressed and coronavirus wreaked havoc in the world, a never-thought-before ‘fashion accessory’ took over the global market — masks. The humble mask had started off as a safety measure against COVID-19, but it soon transitioned into a style statement, with people getting as creative as they could with their masks.
From gold and silver, to animal prints, to eco-friendly, 2020 saw a range of masks being sported confidently by people. Here are some pictures from around the globe. Who knows, you might just want to pick up a few tips from here to pick your next mask!
How it started
When the coronavirus outbreak, which started in China’s Wuhan, was declared as a pandemic, the first advisory by the World Health Organisation emphasised on the use of masks to cover our faces, so as to minimise the risk of contracting the virus. The N95 mask was touted to be the most effective mask against the virus, and shops ran out of those, with people stocking up their homes with the ‘most essential’ item. However, it was later declared by WHO that the N95 masks are as safe as any other masks, which then saw people turning to creative alternatives.
Gold masks
Shankar Kurade, a resident of Pimpri-Chinchwad of Pune district, got himself a mask made of gold worth Rs 2.89 lakhs. He had said, “It’s a thin mask with minute holes so that there’s no difficulty in breathing,” adding, “I’m not sure whether this mask will be effective.” Following in his footsteps, another man from Odisha got a gold mask made from Mumbai’s Zaveri Bazar for Rs 3.5 lakhs, and it weighed around 100 grams.
The Plague doctor mask
The 14th century Plague doctor masks which were used by the healthcare professionals during the deadliest bubonic plague, made a comeback in 2020. Specially designed with beaks, the mask was worn by actress Radha Mitchell when she walked down the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival. Reuters photos
Pig masks
Why only cover your nose and mouth, when you can get a little more creative and protect your entire face? Earlier this year, people in Japan were seen sporting masks that looked like pig heads. The quirky outfit caught the world’s attention, and people even tried to come up with similar masks which looked like the heads of other animals. Reuters photos
Remembering our ancestors
Speak of a trend and trust Bollywood to catch up with it as soon as it can. While the actresses of the Hindi film industry have always inspired people to amp up their sartorial choices with the various outfits they wear, actress Adah Sharma took it upon herself to introduce some funny masks to her fans. She was recently spotted out-and-about in the city, sporting a chimpanzee mask, and even gracefully posed for the paparazzi while at it. Photo source: Yogen Shah
‘Eco-friendly’ masks
As the demand for masks went up, the prices too sky-rocketed, compelling people to turn to more economical ways. A Palestinian mother was snapped making her children wear makeshift masks made out cabbage earlier this year. AP Photo
Best out of waste
A Philippines resident was spotted wearing an improvised mask-cum-face shield made out of a plastic water tank to protect himself from getting infected with the virus. Photo: AFP
Improvisation at its best
Several nations around the globe imposed lockdowns in order to keep their citizens safe. However, some of these nations also witnessed protests from the same citizens against the lockdown restrictions, as they complained that the rules created obstacles in their daily lives. During one such protest in Berlin, Germany, a man was seen using underwear as a face mask to protect himself from coronavirus. Reuters Photos
Gas mask or the ‘Alien mask’
A student was spotted wearing a gas mask in Idaho, along with a gown and cap for his graduation ceremony. Pictures of the boy went viral on the internet, with people dubbing it as the ‘alien mask’. AP Photo
Check Point researchers also warned that positive news about vaccine trials in November and imminent availability also led to a surge in new web domains that relate to Covid-19 or vaccines being registered.
“Our data shows that since the beginning of November there were 1,062 new domains which contain the word ‘vaccine’ that were registered, out of which 400 also contain ‘covid’ or ‘corona’. Six of these sites were found to be ‘suspicious’,” Check Point said.
