{"id":18467,"date":"2021-05-26T09:00:15","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T08:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/?p=18467"},"modified":"2023-01-16T12:43:55","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T12:43:55","slug":"cybersecurity-tips-working-from-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/cybersecurity-tips-working-from-home\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Cybersecurity Tips for Working from Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

The concept of remote work has been around for some time, and it\u2019s only growing larger. More and more people are working from home each year, and the global COVID-19 pandemic has only sped up this trend. The benefits are clear. People don\u2019t have to leave their homes \u2013 they can organise their time, work and avoid typical challenges <\/span>with traditional employment<\/span><\/a>. However, many people live in a bubble, thinking that working from home is completely safe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As more and more businesses and individuals turn to online work, the percentage of cybercrime continues to go up. Most people think that only large businesses are exposed to cyberattacks, but this isn\u2019t true. Anyone can get scammed or get their data stolen online. That\u2019s why remote workers need to start taking the necessary steps towards securing themselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Remote working security tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. Don\u2019t use public Wi-Fi <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Working from home doesn\u2019t strictly refer to working from home. Perhaps the better name for it would be working outside of the office. Why? Because some people prefer working from their home office<\/a> while others enjoy working from a nearby park, library, restaurant, or even on the road. People who use public Wi-Fi to do work expose themselves and the companies they work for to cybersecurity risks.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most <\/span>dangerous public Wi-Fi attacks<\/span><\/a> include man-in-the-middle, Evil Twin (WIFIPHISHER), AirCrack-NG, Passive Sniffing, and Cowpathy. These attacks enable hackers to get into your computer or company\u2019s internal network, download, delete, or encrypt sensitive data, or take full control of your device and company\u2019s server.<\/span><\/p>\n

Public Wi-Fi is generally unsafe, and all the traffic you send or receive could be exposed to third parties. The repercussions of using it could be severe. What is the alternative? You can use your mobile data to do your work. Unlike public Wi-Fi, the internet connection<\/a> through your carrier is encrypted and well-secured. However, if you have no other option but to use public Wi-Fi, the next tip will keep you safe.<\/span><\/p>\n\t

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2. Use a virtual private network\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Once you <\/span>set up your home office to your needs<\/span><\/a>, you should start thinking about how secure your internet connection is. Falling victim to a cybersecurity attack or a phishing scam can set you back and even put your reputation at stake. There are many cybersecurity solutions to help you add additional layers of security. VPN emerges as the most versatile one, though.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>VPN stands for a virtual private network. VPN is a service you can use to improve your online anonymity and security. It allows you to connect to the internet via a virtual network. You get to choose the location you want to appear to be connected from. VPN then assigns you a brand-new IP while hiding your true IP and location.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>As an additional security measure, VPN uses industry-grade encryption protocols to scramble your traffic and make it unusable to anyone else but yourself. Due to its capabilities, VPN is a go-to solution for people who have to work on public Wi-Fi.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Now it may sound too technical for someone who never used it before, but in reality, it isn\u2019t. According to WHSR, <\/span>setting up a VPN and using it is fairly easy<\/span><\/a>. The best thing about it is that you can use it on your dedicated work computer and smartphone to protect your data from cybercriminals.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Store data in the cloud<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Business<\/p>\n

Our instinct is to store the data on local storage when working from home, be it a hard or thumb drive. While it is convenient, storing data on local storage comes with certain risks. The most obvious one is a failing drive. A drive can fail for various reasons, but the outcome is always the same \u2013 the data stored on it is most likely lost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then we have the revision history. Most software tools don\u2019t have revision history, proving catastrophic if you want to restore the previous version. And finally, there are some types of cybersecurity attacks fatal for the data, such as ransomware and vishing or VoIP phishing<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We live in the era of cloud-native platforms. The offer of cloud storage solutions is enormous, making it very affordable. Cloud storage is far safer than local storage because it keeps its servers behind the best firewalls and antivirus tools, making it virtually impossible for hackers to get in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Their servers are also secured from other hazards such as fire. The revision history has also become a standard feature in many cloud storage providers. Finally, they do regular backups as a contingency plan for unplanned events.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Learn to recognise phishing emails\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Another common cybersecurity threat you should know about is phishing. Phishing attacks<\/a> are often launched via phishing emails once the target clicks on the link. Phishing emails are emails that often impersonate legitimate organisations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Their goal is to take advantage of the trust you have. Once you click on the link contained in the phishing email, you\u2019ll be asked to provide some sensitive information, such as social security number, credit card info, and password.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>At first glance, these emails appear real, but if you know where and what to look for, you can easily tell that it\u2019s a scam. These emails usually feature a legit subject line and a story tailored to trick you into clicking a link and giving your data. Here\u2019s how you can recognise phishing emails:<\/span><\/p>\n