When working from home, it is important to understand that you are more susceptible to cyber-attacks. As the outbreak continues, more and more organizations are recommending, and perhaps even mandating remote work. As a result, employees everywhere are having to rapidly adjust to virtual meetings, chatting, and many other forms of online/remote collaboration. This can be a challenge, as many organizations lack the proper cyber-security policies and practices for secure remote work.
Consequently, you should familiarize yourself with any and all cyber-security practices in order to best defend yourself. Here, we have identified three core risks you should be aware of.
- Social Engineering: Social Engineering is a form of psychological warfare, where bad actors trick or fool their victims into making a mistake, potentially revealing confidential information. This method of attack is made easier during a time of change and confusion. For instance, phishing emails always appear genuine, but are one of the most common, malicious and unfortunately successful lines of attack.
- Strong Passwords: Weak passwords continue to be one of the primary drivers for breaches on a global scale. It is vital to create a strong and memorable password for important accounts. Make sure all your accounts use unique and sophisticated passwords. Use Multi-factor Authentication when available to truly secure all accounts. MFA is when you need both a password and code sent to or generated by your mobile device.
- Updated Systems: Ensure employees use the latest version of the operating system, applications, or mobile apps. Don’t ignore software updates, out of date means unsecure!
In addition, Wi-Fi plays an important role when working from home. Securing your Wi-Fi access point is paramount. The most effective steps you can take to secure your wireless networks at home are to change the default admin password, enable a WPA2 encryption and use a new, strong password for your wireless network.
When working remotely, are your employees aware of social engineering for ensuring corporate cybersecurity? It is crucial to continue your typical cybersecurity best practices and reach out with any questions or concerns.