Coronavirus pandemic changed how people work. Some government departments, private companies and public institutions are mandating that all workers who can, should work from home.
For many, this is the first time they’ve worked from home. Fortunately, most workers started to embrace this work setup as it offers a lot of benefits like flexibility, convenience, and time saving.
However, even though we’re experiencing a pandemic, cyber threats aren’t on pause. There’s a spike inphishing and other cybercrime activities now that the majority of workers are working from home. Thus, cybersecurity is crucial.
Typically, at workplaces, someone is taking care of cybersecurity measures. But when working from home, you need to handle it yourself. This is important especially if you are using your personal laptop or computer.
To help you keep your work from home set up more secure, we have compiled 5 practical cybersecurity tips that will guarantee safe remote working.
1. Always Turn On Your VPN
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) secures all the information being transferred between the employee and employers called data encryption. It is built to prevent cyber spies, cyber crooks, and other cyber threats from interrupting important and sensitive data like customer details and financial documents.
If you are already using a VPN, make sure to keep it turned on at all times. Also, if you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi network when accessing accounts related to your job (which you never should), make sure you have a VPN turned on as well.
2. Use Antivirus
Some hackers attempt to send viruses to their victims. So, to stay safe, you will need to install reliable antivirus. Having this on your personal device is crucial, but its significance is much bigger if you’re using your personal computer while working at home. Prevent malware and viruses from compromising your work and even the system of your employer with antivirus.
3. Don’t Overshare Your Screen
You need to be careful when sharing your screen during an online meeting. Make sure not to leave windows open that you do not want to share with others. Accidents may happen any time and there are times that you may share something that you did not mean to. Aside from being awkward, it is also a privacy problem. You may be oversharing content that isn’t meant to be seen by other people.
4. Update Your Programs and System
To prevent cybercriminals from exploiting the weaknesses of your operating systems and programs, you will need to update regularly. Make sure that your OS is running the newest version. Also, enable auto-updates to ensure everything is safe.
5. Use A Strong Password
A strong password guarantees that if your laptop is lost or stolen hackers cannot get into it. What’s more, it will protect your online accounts. So, if you’re a remote worker make it a habit to create long passwords with several characters. Further, having a two-step authentication process is a good way to stay safe.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity is very important as it protects important data and information from unattended and unauthorized access. So, by taking cybersecurity measures like using VPN, antivirus software, and strong passwords, updating your programs, and not sharing your screens, you can guarantee that you are protected by criminals even if you are working from home.
