MICROSOFT STEPS UP

Microsoft on Tuesday announced it would offer free cybersecurity protection tools to health care, humanitarian and human rights groups around the world following a spike in attempted hacking attempts due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The company will offer groups around the world free access to its AccountGuard threat notification program, which alerts users to malicious emails that may be attempts at stealing personal information or hack into systems. The program will be available for use by health care and human rights groups until the coronavirus pandemic subsides.

The AccountGuard program was previously offered for free by Microsoft to all candidates and their campaigns running for federal, state or local offices in the United States.

The announcement was made following weeks of reports that health care organizations, including hospitals and leading agencies, were under increasing attack by hackers.