Daily UPSC Current Affairs | 20th May
Dear AspirantsIASbhai Daily Current Affairs for UPSC PRELIMS & MAINS 2020 is an initiative to dilute major articles from leading Newspapers in India which are most relevant to UPSC preparation –‘THE HINDU, LIVEMINT , INDIAN EXPRESS’ and help millions of readers who find difficulty in answer writing and making notes everyday. Hence we choose articles on daily basis and analyse them with respect to UPSC PRELIMS 2020.
Believe in yourself, take on your challenges, dig deep within yourself to conquer fears. Never let anyone bring you down. You got to keep going.– Chantal Sutherland
Page Contents:
EventBot : Banking MALWARE
HEADLINES:
CBI alerts authorities to malware threat
WHY IN NEWS:
It uses an update related to COVID-19
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Cyber Security
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS it is important to understand that UPSC is fond of asking such questions ! Let us dive in !
ISSUE:
BANKING MALWARE EVENTBOT
The CERT-In advisory said that EventBot is a “mobile-banking Trojan and info-stealer that abuses Android’s in-built accessibility features to steal user data from financial applications, read user SMS messages and intercept SMS messages, allowing malware to bypass two-factor authentication.”
- “The EventBot trojan has over 200 different financial applications under its target, including banking applications, money-transfer services, and cryptocurrency wallets, or financial applications based in the US and European region,” .
- CERT-In noted that EventBot has not been spotted on the official Google Play Store as of now but it can “masquerade” as a genuine application to cheat users.
- The cybersecurity agency noted that the malware asks for permissions such as “controlling system alerts, reading external storage content, installing additional packages, accessing the internet, whitelisting it to ignore battery optimisation, auto-initiate upon reboot, read and receive SMS messages as well as continue running and accessing data in the background” once it is installed on victim’s Android phone.
HOW TO SAVE YOURSELF FROM EVENTBOT
- CERT-In has suggested certain counter-measures for Android phone users to save themselves from the virus infection.
- These steps include not downloading or installing applications from untrusted sources like unknown websites or links sent over mail or SMS.
- Users should also look at the app reviews, details, number of downloads, and user reviews of an app before downloading from the Play Store.
- Other security steps include installing an updated anti-virus solution and keeping their phone updated with the latest Android updates and patches.
- Users should also exercise caution while tapping on URLs and avoid using unsecured or unknown Wi-Fi networks.
- “EventBot is a typical malware designed to steal data of financial applications on a victim’s phone.
IASbhai WINDUP:
As organisations merge personal technology with corporate devices, these are one of many malware-infected apps that could permeate an organisation’s network !
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB/DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS for UPSC CSE Prelims & Mains
New guidelines for workplaces
HEADLINES:
Health Ministry issues new guidelines for workplaces
WHY IN NEWS:
5,680 fresh cases recorded; no decision yet on dropping HCQ as a prophylactic
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Health:Diseases
ISSUE:
- The Union Health Ministry announced fresh workplace guidelines on Tuesday.
- With the easing of the lockdown measures and with more offices/workplaces starting operations, the Ministry directed that anyone diagnosed as a suspected/confirmed case of COVID-19 should immediately inform the office authorities and isolate themselves.
- While there was no need to close the entire office building/halt work if one or two cases were detected, a large outbreak would require that the building be shut down for 48 hours and disinfected.
- The guidelines make it mandatory to maintain a physical distance of at least one metre to be followed at all times along with use of face covers/masks.
ICMR TO RELOOK
- The Ministry also said that no decision has been taken as yet to replace hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), introduced as a game-changer to arrest the spread of COVID-19, as a prophylactic, with HIV combination drugs, after reports of experts demanding that it be dropped from the safety guideline list of drugs prescribed for high-risk persons, including healthcare workers.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- With experts questioning the effectiveness of HCQ, a senior health official said the drug was under review “but no decision has been taken to drop it just yet”.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB/DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS for UPSC CSE Prelims & Mains
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