COVID-19 Pandemic email virus: how to spot it and what to do
COVID-19 Pandemic email virus is a malicious program that users might install on their machines after being tricked by a phishing email. During the coronavirus outbreak, the number of phishing emails allegedly coming from such organizations like WHO (World Health Organization) or CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) grew rampant, as multiple malicious actors are seeking to gain financial benefit.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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COVID-19 Pandemic email virus: summary
| Damage | Significant monetary losses, identity theft, data compromise, other malware infection |
|---|---|
| Name | COVID-19 Pandemic email virus |
| Type | Malware, phishing email |
| Associated malware | Once executed, the email attachment installs the data-stealing Trojan FormBook |
| Related | New Order.img, MY-HEALTH.PDF, MY-HEALTH.exe, Untitled attachment 00012.zip |
| Infiltration | Spam emails that come from alleged global health organizations or known companies |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 9 more facts
| Symptoms | While Trojans are designed to remain unnoticed on the system, users might find some traces of the info-stealing malware, such as strange browser behavior (slowness, redirects, inability to access particular sites), software or system crashes, unknown processes running in the background, etc. |
|---|---|
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Arrives as | |
| Pretends to be | A well-known company |
| Claim | Your account needs urgent attention |
| Sender domain | trellis3ts@gmail.com |
| Asks for | Your password |
| First seen | 12 August 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What the COVID-19 Pandemic email virus e-mail looks like
Latest updates on coronavirus disease outbreak
Concerning Corona-virus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak, the World Health Organisation brings you the Corona-virus EBook and Grants/Donation guild.
Inside this book (MY-HEALTH.PDF), you shall find out the simplest and fastest way to take care of your health and protect others. More new cases in South Korea surge by 600 people affected by the deadly virus while China gives citizens a colour code and the United States of America Corona-virus deaths rise to six.
How to tell the COVID-19 Pandemic email virus e-mail is fake
- Sender:
trellis3ts@gmail.com
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
Learn to recognize malicious spam emails
First of all, you should keep in mind that all "big things" that are happening in the world will always attract cybercriminals, and they will keep abusing the popularity of a topic, an application, a company, or the latest video game which spiked in popularity.
Therefore, whenever you are dealing with online content, such as various websites and emails, you should keep that point in mind. There are several preventive measures that can be practiced to avoid malware online. Despite that, the most relevant is familiarization with the latest security threats, and attentiveness while browsing the internet.
Phishing emails are particularly dangerous and prevalent attack vectors for malware distribution, mainly because they are easy to use, and are still very effective. Besides, the process can be simplified with the help of botnets that can send thousands of emails automatically on a daily basis.
As a result, even if not all malicious emails result in the infections, the small percentage of people that do open the attachment, is still significant enough for threat actors to gain the maximum amount of profits. Luckily, many email providers employ built-in malware scanners, which would immediately send most of the malicious emails to a Spam folder and mark them as potentially dangerous.
In most cases, phishing emails contain a familiar sender name - such as the World Health Organization. However, it is important to now that anybody can use the name of whatever they want. In other words, look at the precise email address instead of the name of the sender. Note that the attackers often use similar email addresses that might look legitimate, but usually have duplicated letters or similar inconsistencies.
Most of the malware payloads are delivered through the attachments, so they are a vital part of the infection chain. These attachments can come in different formats, and function differently. For example, macro-infused .doc and .xls files might ask to "Allow content" to proceed, while other documents may include links to malicious domains.
All in all, you should never trust email attachments, even if they come from seemingly secure sources. Thus, simply scan it with anti-malware software or upload it to Virus Total before opening. Finally, equip your computer with anti-malware to protect it from unsolicited intrusions via phishing emails.
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on COVID-19 Pandemic email virus
- In some cases, termination of malware might be tricky, as Trojans might use several security tool disruption techniques to remain unnoticed.
- Nonetheless, the most up-to-date anti-malware software should be able to find and eliminate all malicious files placed by the virus - you can find more details in the bottom section of the article
- Trojans can disrupt the normal operation of the Windows system, even after its termination.
- Thus, if you experience system crashes, lag, or other stability issues after you get rid of the virus, employ to repair it promptly
- The malware injects itself into various processes and installs function hooks to log keystrokes, steal clipboard contents, and extract data from HTTP sessions.
- The malware can also execute commands from a command and control (C2) server.
Is COVID-19 Pandemic email virus dangerous? What the senders want
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
COVID-19 Pandemic email virus is a term used to describe malware and scams included in phishing emails related to coronavirus pandemic
COVID-19 Pandemic email virus is a malicious program that users might install on their machines after being tricked by a phishing email.
During the coronavirus outbreak, the number of phishing emails allegedly coming from such organizations like WHO (World Health Organization) or CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) grew rampant, as multiple malicious actors are seeking to gain financial benefit. By boobytrapping malware inside, COVID-19 Pandemic email virus authors deliver such infections like FormBook Trojan - its main goal is to steal a variety of sensitive information on users' machines.
Additionally, you can also check on some tips on how to prevent being infected via coronavirus-themed scams.
Phishing campaigns have been prevalent since pandemic's begging, as the issue is extremely sensitive and, thanks to mass media, is extremely relevant. It is no surprise that threat actors are trying to abuse the worldwide trends and even a pandemic in order to infect people with malware, and the COVID-19 Pandemic email virus is one of them.
The phishing campaign of the COVID-19 Pandemic email virus was first spotted in early March 2020, and there are also a few different versions of it available. Despite that, all of the variants focus on a pandemic and carry the malicious payload within the attachment of the email.
Victims are presented with an email that overall looks legitimate, as it includes information about the COVID-19 pandemic. The sender, which seems to be the WHO from the first sight, sends the email with "high importance" and titled it as "Coronavirus Updates." The message looks very professional, so it is not surprising that many users can get caught off guard and install the COVID-19 Pandemic email virus unintentionally.
The contents of the COVID-19 Pandemic email are as follows:
In reality, the so-called MY-HEALTH.PDF is not actually a PDF but an .EXE file, which, once clicked, will begin to infect the computer with malware. Note that there are also several spelling mistakes within the text - yet another reason to be suspicious.
In other cases, users might also be presented as a purchase order that is coming from a well-known organization or another attachment. As research shows, other file types, such as .IMG, .PDF, .DOC, .XLS, .RAR, .ACE, and .ISO, was also used to initiate the infection process of the COVID-19 Pandemic email virus.
FormBook is not a new malware in the cybercriminal scene - it first emerged in early 2016 and since then has been highly advertised on the underground hacking forums. This technique allows all types of cybercriminal groups to rent access to the malicious code and retain all the profits from it.
COVID-19 Pandemic email virus possesses an array of various capabilities, including:
Security researchers from FireEye, who analyzed the malware in 2017, said the following:
Without a doubt, the infection can cause significant financial losses to any victim infected. Besides, disclosure of personal email, name, address, social security number, credit card information, and other data might also eventually lead to identity fraud or theft. In other words, COVID-19 Pandemic email virus removal is a mandatory procedure to prevent unfortunate consequences of a Trojan infection.
Note that, due to process injection, the COVID-19 Pandemic email virus might remain unnoticed for a very long time, performing malicious activities in the background. This is another reason to keep a comprehensive security solution installed on your system at all times.
- Taking screenshots
- Keylogging
- Stealing passwords from emails and browsers
- Grabbing information from the clipboard
- Grabbing HTTP/HTTPS/SPDY/HTTP2 forms and network requests
- Updating itself
- Clearing browser cookies
- Removing itself from the infected system
- Downloading additional files, etc.
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
COVID-19 Pandemic email virus versions
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge of emails that promote the alleged compensations for people around the world.
Nevertheless, mostly US citizens are targeted by these scams, and names of the well-known organizations, such as the United Nations, World Health Organization, and others, are commonly used to make the hoax more believable.
While there are several versions of the Covid-19 Pandemic email scams, most of them are identical on a fundamental basis: they claim that compensation or relief is due to the global crisis.
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
Covid-19 Compensation Fund scam
Covid-19 Compensation Fund scam is an email attempting to exploit the global pandemic to trick users into providing personal data.
The message authors claim that users are eligible for a compensation of $420,000, which is provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN). Allegedly, the payout is due to reduce global poverty due to the health crisis worldwide. However, the Covid-19 Compensation Fund email is just a scam and should never be trusted.
Threat actors are seeking to steal personal information of users for personal gain. In the case of Covid-19 Compensation Fund email scam, they are asked to provide the following data via the emails trellis3ts@gmail.com or trellisesq@webmail.co.za to reclaim the compensation:
If you received such an email, keep in mind that it is a scam, and your personal information will be sold on the dark web, or you can become a target of other scams in the future.
It is not uncommon for malicious actors behind Covid-19 Compensation Fund scam to send follow-up emails in order to make users download malware or provide more sensitive information, such as Social Security Number (SSN) or credit card data.
- Full name
- Country
- State/Province
- City
- Sex and age
- Occupation
- House address
- Mobile number
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
Terminate COVID-19 Pandemic email virus and remediate your computer
If COVID-19 Pandemic email virus removal is not performed as soon as possible, it can steal a variety of information from your system.
Unfortunately, you might not even notice that the malicious program is running in the background in the first place, as Trojans are designed to be stealthy. However, COVID-19 Pandemic email virus, once inside the system, might show the following symptoms:
Nevertheless, since FormBook is a multi-functional Trojan with plenty of evasion capabilities, it is recommended to access Safe Mode with Networking and initiating a full system scan with anti-malware.
Once you eliminate the COVID-19 Pandemic email virus, you should also take additional steps to secure all your accounts - change passwords and monitor your online banking transactions. In case you notice anything suspicious, contact your bank and explain the situation, the stall will be able to assist you with the situation further.
[GI=method-1]In case you are having troubles with malware removal in normal mode, access Safe Mode with Networking as explained below:
- slow operation of the browser
- difficulty to access some websites
- software or/and system crashes
- system lag, errors, bugs, etc.
What to do after the COVID-19 Pandemic email virus e-mail
If you only received the message and clicked nothing, step 3 is all you need.
If you clicked the link or typed anything on the page it opened, do every step, starting with the password.
Step 1: Change the password you typed on the fake page
If you entered a password after clicking the link in the COVID-19 Pandemic email virus message, treat that account as known to the sender.
Open the provider's real site by typing its address yourself, not through any link in the e-mail, and change the password there. Choose a new one you have never used before, and change it on every other account that shared the old one.
Then use the option to sign out of all other sessions or devices, if the provider has one. This works the same in any browser on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Microsoft account, Security page (account.microsoft.com/security): Change password. Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account
Step 2: Turn on two-step verification
Two-step verification asks for a code from your phone or an authenticator app whenever someone signs in from a new device. A stolen password alone is then not enough to open the mailbox.
Turn it on in the security settings of the e-mail account first, then for the bank, shop and social accounts that send their reset links to that address.
While you are there, check the recovery e-mail and phone number and the forwarding rules, which attackers sometimes change to keep access. The settings pages look the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Microsoft account: Manage how I sign in, where two-step verification and the sign-in methods are. Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account
Step 3: Report the e-mail and delete it
Report the message instead of only deleting it. In Outlook choose Report > Report phishing, in Gmail the three-dot menu > Report phishing; the provider then blocks the same message for other people.
Do not reply and do not click anything else in it. On a work account, forward it to your IT team as an attachment first. Web mail and the mail apps on Windows 11 and Windows 10 offer the same options.
New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web: Report > Report phishing. Full procedure with screenshots: Report a phishing e-mail
Step 4: Scan the PC if you opened a file from the message
A page that only asked for a password installs nothing, so most readers can skip this step.
If the COVID-19 Pandemic email virus e-mail or the page it opened made you download or open a file, delete it and run a full scan, then a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
In Windows 11 and Windows 10 open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts and the scan takes about 15 minutes, so save your work first.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about COVID-19 Pandemic email virus
Can reading "Latest updates on coronavirus disease outbreak" infect my computer?
Reading it cannot. An e-mail is text and pictures, and current versions of Outlook, Gmail and other web mail services do not run code from a message just because you opened it. What can cause harm is an action:
- signing in on the page the link opens
- opening an attachment
- enabling macros in a document
The message "Latest updates on coronavirus disease outbreak" was built to lead you to one of those steps. If you stopped at reading, delete it and use the report button so the provider can block the same wave for others. Nothing needs to be removed from Windows.
The "Latest updates on coronavirus disease outbreak" page asked for my code too. Is two-step verification enough?
Not when you typed the code yourself. Some phishing pages pass your password and the one-time code to the real site in real time, which lets the attacker sign in once. Change the password immediately, then sign out of all sessions so the stolen session ends.
Check the account's security page for new devices, app passwords and recovery details, and remove anything you did not add. A passkey or a hardware key is the strongest protection against this trick, because it cannot be typed into a fake page. Keep the e-mail "Latest updates on coronavirus disease outbreak" for your report, then delete it.
Is COVID-19 Pandemic email virus really from a well-known company?
No. It is sent by scammers who copy the name and look of a well-known company. The sender address and the links do not belong to it, and the message asks for your password, which a real company does not request through an unexpected message.
If you want to be sure about your account, open the website or app of a well-known company the way you normally do, not through the message, and look for notices there. Then delete the message and report it as phishing. If you already followed its instructions, use the steps in this guide for your case.
Should I block trellis3ts@gmail.com?
You can, but it helps little. Campaigns like COVID-19 Pandemic email virus rotate sender addresses constantly, and trellis3ts@gmail.com may already be abandoned. Reporting the message as phishing is more useful:
- it trains your provider's filter on the content
- not only on the address
- it feeds shared blocklists
In most mail apps the option is in the message menu as Report phishing or Report spam. Do not reply and do not use any unsubscribe link in the message; both confirm that your address is active.
Is it true that your account needs urgent attention?
No. The claim that your account needs urgent attention is the hook of COVID-19 Pandemic email virus, invented to give you a reason to act quickly. Scammers pick a story that could plausibly apply to many people, so it may feel relevant to you, but nothing in the message is based on your real accounts or devices.
If the claim concerns a service you use, check it there directly, by opening the website or app yourself. You will find no such problem. Then delete the message and report it as phishing.
What happens if I do what COVID-19 Pandemic email virus asks?
The scammers get your password, and they use it quickly. Passwords are tried on the real service within minutes, cards are charged or added to phone wallets, remote access is used to open your bank, and crypto is moved on at once.
Documents surface later as accounts in your name. If you already did what the message asked, do not wait to see what happens; follow the steps in this guide for your case today. Speed matters more than anything else here.
Does receiving COVID-19 Pandemic email virus mean I was hacked?
No. A e-mail like this is sent to huge lists at once, and your address or number is on one of them, most likely because it appeared in a data breach or on a public page. Nothing on your PC caused it.
What would matter is whether anyone signed in to your accounts; check recent sign-in activity in your e-mail and bank accounts if you are worried. Turn on two-step verification for the important ones, then delete the message and report it as phishing.
How can I spot messages like COVID-19 Pandemic email virus in future?
Check the sender's actual address, not only the name. Hover over links before clicking and compare the domain with the real one. Be suspicious of urgency, threats, prizes, unexpected invoices and requests for passwords, codes, card data or crypto.
Do not call phone numbers from unexpected messages; use the number on the official site or your card. When in doubt, go to the service directly through its app or a bookmark. Phishing protection and two-step verification limit the damage when a scam gets through.
What should I do first after COVID-19 Pandemic email virus?
Secure the account involved. From a device you trust, open the official app or website directly, change the password and sign out of all sessions. Turn on two-step verification with an app or a passkey rather than text messages if the service allows it.
Then check recent activity, linked e-mail addresses and recovery phone numbers for changes you did not make. If an e-mail with the subject "Latest updates on coronavirus disease outbreak" involved money, call your bank using the number on the back of your card. Only after that look into how it happened.
Will Fortect remove COVID-19 Pandemic email virus?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For COVID-19 Pandemic email virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Threat Post: Coronavirus 'Financial Relief' Phishing Attacks Spike (read October 6, 2026)
- FireEye: Significant FormBook Distribution Campaigns Impacting the U.S. and South Korea (read October 6, 2026)
- Express: Valorant Beta Key warning: Stick to Twitch Drops and avoid this scam (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize and avoid phishing scams (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: Recognize and report phishing (read October 6, 2026)