Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of people working from home during 2020 more than doubled, as millions were forced into isolation. While this did offer some benefits – greater flexibility, fewer commuting costs, and a reduced impact on the environment – there were also some drawbacks.
Cybersecurity was one of those, as a large proportion of the country’s workforce logged on and accessed company systems from home. Any breaches could have serious consequences for the individuals and businesses involved. That’s why employees must take steps to enhance safety measures when working remotely. Here are five ways to do that.
Be Alert to Any Potential Scams
It’s estimated that cybercrime incidents increased 600% due to the pandemic, as hackers saw the global crisis as an opportunity to capitalise on. The likes of email phishing scams – where criminals send out seemingly legitimate messages containing harmful links – have become increasingly popular. These emails often ask you to take urgent action or hand over personal information. So anything that looks suspicious should be reported immediately.
Install Antivirus Software
The right software can add extra layers of protection in the form of firewalls, spam filters, security reports, and more. These features can help safeguard the business’ systems, storage platforms and reduce the risk of hackers.
Use a VPN
A virtual private network or VPN service (https://nordvpn.com/) connection creates an encrypted tunnel for the data you send and receive while using your devices. It also protects your online identity by hiding your IP address and allows you to use public Wi-Fi hotspots safely.
Create Strong Passwords
You certainly have passwords set up for accessing various applications and systems. Try to make these as strong as possible, using a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and other characters. Avoid using the same password for everything – although it’s more convenient for you, it’s also more dangerous. It could allow a hacker into multiple areas of sensitive data.
Use Secure Wi-Fi
Don’t use the given network name and password; always change those to something more personal and harder to hack. You can also encrypt your network and restrict access to certain MAC addresses, limiting the chances of a successful attack and a potentially harmful breach.
