A recent Threatpost poll found that 40 percent of the companies transitioning to WFH experienced a spike in cyberattacks.

The survey concluded that patching and updating are among the top challenges for employees when securing their remote footprint.

“Attackers are taking advantage of the current shift to remote work by promoting malware masquerading as VPN installers,” says the Israeli company Cybereason.

To deal with the escalation, some cybersecurity firms are offering their assistance. One of them is cybersecurity startup Vicarius which helps IT teams to monitor and mitigate third-party software risk.

Vicarius’s flagship cyber-solution, TOPIA provides companies with real-time insight into ongoing risks and vulnerabilities. With 90% of cyber attacks stemming from software vulnerabilities found in third-party apps, access to an employee’s computer can be a goldmine for many hackers.

“We have the solutions to solve these problems. Now we’re simply making them accessible. Our goal is to provide companies peace of mind as they navigate this crisis,” said Vicarius co-founder Michael Assraf.

Cyberattacks have surged in countries hardest hit by the virus, such as Italy. In late February 2020, Trickbot campaigns were tracked, primarily targeting Italian entities, according to Jim Walter of SentinelLabs. “This is dangerous as businesses make the transition to remote work and suggest best practices to employees, including the use of VPNs.”