The Government's nodal agency for cybersecurity matters CERT-In has issued an advisory warning of the possibility of large-scale cyber attacks targeting businesses and individuals in the garb of COVID-19 using the pandemic as a bait, reports Times of India.

CERT-In's advisory underscores that malicious actors involved have claimed to have access to over 2 million email IDs and intend to send emails with the subject lines making mention of free COVID-19 testing for all residents of Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Ahmedabad.

As per CERT-In, it is likely that the attackers could impersonate Government agencies, departments and also trade bodies involved in deliverance of Government's financial aid using email IDs like "ncov2019@gov.in"

The emails are expected to be designed in such a way, that lured by the bait, once the recipient opens them, they shall be redirected to fake websites where they shall be deceived into downloading malicious files on entering personal and financial information.

The body has advised the users to not open attachments in unsolicited emails even if they receive those from the people in their contact list. It has also asked the users to encrypt and protect their sensitive documents to avoid any potential leakage of sensitive information.

It has also advised people to use anti-virus tools, firewalls and filtering services, while also asking them to immediately report any unusual activity or attack to CERT-In.