The malware program Emotet has spread rapidly in recent weeks via fake emails to private individuals, companies, public authorities and also universities. This Trojan first reads contact relationships and e-mails from the mailboxes of infected systems and then sends infected e-mails to the contacts. The virus is particularly dangerous because it imitates the read messages so that they are perceived as normal e-mails.
How to protect yourself
- Never click on attachments or links in e-mails carelessly, even if the sender is known. If in doubt, contact the sender personally.
- Always keep your software programs (for example Microsoft Office) up to date.
- Take care not to run macros in unknown documents, as Trojans usually spread via malicious documents with activated macros.
If you have received infected e-mails, please do not open them. Send suspicious e-mails as attachments to the IT-ServiceDesk for further treatment. If you have been infected, please contact the IT-ServiceDesk.
Further helpful information on the Emotet case can also be found on the websites of the Alliance for Cyber Security, the DFN-CERT and the Federal Office for Information Security.