Feds warn of monkeypox-themed malicious email campaign targeting health care providers

Article

Don’t click on links or attachments unless you’re sure they are legitimate.

Physicians and their staff should beware a monkeypox-themed email campaign that is targeting health care providers.

A sector alert was published Sept. 19 by the Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The campaign uses official-sounding language to convince recipients to click on a bogus download that is really a program that attempts to steal email credentials.

The sector alert stated: “The campaign has a subject of: “Data from (Victim Organization Abbreviation): "Important read about - Monkey Pox – (Victim Organization) (Reference Number) and utilizes an “Important read about Monkey Pox” theme.

“Inside of the email is a PDF with a malicious link which lures the recipient to a Lark Docs site. “The site is Adobe Doc cloud themed and offers a secure fax Monkey Pox PDF download.

"Clicking the download attempts to harvest Outlook, O365, or other mail credentials.”

HC3 recommends the following actions to help protect organization cybersecurity:

  • Protect each account with complex, unique passwords. Use a passphrase and/or a complex combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • In general, avoid opening unsolicited emails from senders you do not know.
  • Do not open a link or an attachment in an email unless you’re confident it comes from a legitimate source.
  • Do not download or install programs if you do not have complete trust in the publisher.
  • Do not visit unsafe websites and do not click on pop-up windows that promise free programs that perform useful tasks.

This aricle originally appeared on Medcical Economics®.

Newsletter

Get the latest clinical updates, case studies, and expert commentary in obstetric and gynecologic care. Sign up now to stay informed.

Recent Videos
Zachary Wagner, PhD, discusses the harms of bias in reproductive care | Image Credit: ornsife.usc.edu.
Ciera Kirkpatrick, PhD, shows how TikTok is transforming cervical cancer awareness | Image Credit: linkedin.com.
Maria Gallo, PhD, discusses high attendance at crisis pregnancy centers | Image Credit: © x.com.
Eran Bornstein, MD, highlights early signs of preeclampsia clinicians need to know | Image Credit: northwell.edu.
Eran Bornstein, MD explains the need for first trimester preeclampsia screening | Image Credit: northwell.edu.
Veerle Bergink, MD, PhD, highlights familial links of postpartum psychosis | Image Credit: profiles.mountsinai.org.
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.