Randomized Cyber Attack Simulation Model: A Cybersecurity Mitigation Proposal for Post COVID-19 Digital Era

Abstract

The social distancing practices triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic have caused a huge growth in the use of online technologies to support remote work, resulting in a sharp rise in computer crimes, privacy breaches and service disruptions across the globe. Cyber attackers are taking advantage of COVID-19 anxiety to launch email scams, misinform and mislead unsuspecting targets, and propagate harmful software using various threats. The trend beckons for a more proactive cybersecurity approach to detect, prevent, and mitigate potential computer crimes. This paper proposes a Randomized Cyberattack Simulation Model (RCSM), an enhanced cyber attack readiness checklist for tackling computer crimes in advance. The RCSM extends traditional incident response and offers a pre-forensic guide as a precursor to the redefinition of cybersecurity in the post COVID-19 digital era