Many companies worldwide have shifted to remote work. Yet, this gives hackers more chances. Follow these tips for cybersecurity when working from home.
Many employees prefer working from home as it has increased their productivity. Moreover, remote work removed the hassle brought by commuting. In fact, many of these remote working employees would like to keep doing so.
The Fear On Working From Home Setup
However, this kind of setup makes some employers’ IT professionals. For instance, a study revealed that only 44% of IT professionals have confidence in their organization’s ability to battle cyberattacks. That is a huge decrease compared to 71% before the pandemic.
The three main reasons why they feel this way are:
- Lack of physical security in the workspaces of remote workers
- Malware infecting remote workers’ devices
- Hackers accessing sensitive data on remote workers’ devices
Well, IT professionals are not to be blamed. Interpol, the international agency, warned organizations of an increase in cybercrimes. Furthermore, the agency reported that criminals are also taking advantage of increased security vulnerabilities brought by remote work.
Tips For Strong Cybersecurity When Working From Home
There are various steps you can take to protect your company’s data and devices while you’re working from home. Read on to see tips for strong cybersecurity when working from home.
Don’t Delay Updates
Ensure that you install the latest software updates as soon as they are available. Stop ignoring such notifications. Sacrificing a few minutes of your time in updating goes a long way in protecting your data.
Additionally, ensure that your antivirus programs are always up-to-date. Moreover, pay attention to OS updates on your smartphone, especially if you use a single phone for your work and personal life.
Don’t Turn Off the VPN
A virtual private network or VPN secures the information transmitted between employer and employee. This is known as data encryption.
It’s crucial that you don’t turn off your VPN when you’re working. This blocks the attempts of hackers to intercept and steal sensitive information.
Furthermore, avoid using public Wi-Fi networks when accessing work-related accounts, unless you’ve signed in to your employer’s VPN. Finally, turn off the VPN when you’re using your device for personal matters or when you’re not working.
Watch Out for Phishing Scams
Phishing is an old yet effective method used by hackers to lure victims into giving up their data. The hacker sends out an email impersonating a trusted organization like the government or an employer.
The email contains a link or attachment that looks legitimate. However, clicking on it could unleash malware onto your device. Or in some cases, it would take you to a website that asks you to enter your information.
Pump Up the Passwords
It’s a must that all of your devices are protected by unique, strong passwords. Additionally, your Wi-Fi network and router must be password-protected, too.
It’s recommended that you use a strong, lengthy password for every online account you log in to. Moreover, a password must contain at least 10 characters. They must exclude real words or personal information such as birthdate.
