Ever since the global pandemic took the world by a deadly storm, working from home has become the new normal. In the beginning, we all struggled to adjust to this new work model. It was hard to focus on work because of greater distractions at home. The fear of COVID-19 and the safety concern had been hovering over our heads. Almost everyone was worried regarding their job security.
Amidst all the chaos and struggling mental health, work from home was another challenge on the list. Then eventually, we slowly adjusted to the new work routine because as humans we are prone to adapt to a change, particularly meant for survival. So, we did. It is now being thought that the remote working trend might stay even if the COVID crisis fades.
Working from home does bring its set of benefits to us in terms of greater flexibility and better savings on commute. It also exposes us to a wider range of cyber threats at the same time. If you have subscribed to a reliable and secure internet connection, then you can minimize the risks to a great extent.
For instance, subscribing to a Spectrum internet plan can give you some peace of mind, since the Spectrum online experience is protected with a 360° security shield, which helps you stay safe from viruses, worms, spyware, or any malware, etc. Yet, it is equally important to observe the best security practices to ensure maximum protection against cybersecurity risks.
We have listed some of the most effective practices for a more secure work from home experience below:
Install Antivirus
A smart security tip while working at home is to use strong antivirus protection. You might be thinking that it is unlikely for you to be affected by any malware, but the fact is that the damage caused globally to businesses due to cybercrimes is as high as around $1 to $2 billion annually. This figure keeps rising as more employees fall victim to hackers sniffing for any unprotected system to intrude and steal information.
To avoid any such exploitation and keep your data safe, you must install reliable anti-virus software, so you can work remotely with maximum security against malware, virus, Trojans, phishing scams, or spyware, etc.
Use a VPN
Remote working calls for a VPN setup, so you are not exposed to any potential hackers. A good VPN will allow you to encrypt your data and block unauthorized access to your web traffic. While working from home, make sure to connect to the corporate network over a reliable VPN, so confidential business data can remain hidden from suspicious onlookers.
Beware of COVID-19 Scams
One of the recent methods adopted by hackers is to use the COVID-19 outbreak for various phishing or scam strategies. Thus, if you get an unauthorized message or mail with links or attachments, never, I repeat NEVER click on them randomly as it might be a hacker attempt to sabotage your system and steal sensitive information. Better safe than sorry! Avoid such COVID-19 related possible scams, as they can do much damage.
Stay Cautious While Using Zoom or Video Conferencing
Work from home usually requires excessive use of Zoom and other video conferencing tools while attending meetings. These video conferencing tools have been extremely useful and have made effective communication possible amidst the pandemic-induced lockdown and social distancing, yet they may also pose certain security risks.
For instance, there have been some incidents reported where an uninvited person would gain access to another person’s video conference and harass him, referred to as Zoom bombing attacks. Similar incidents have also been reported on other platforms.
So, the point here is that with the growing internet usage, hacking attempts and strategies have also been evolving and taking different forms. To avoid any invasion risks during the videoconference sessions, it is advised to ensure that the meetings are private, the end-to-end encryption is enabled and the software has the latest updates installed.
Quick WFH Safety Tips for Employees
Here is a quick checklist to ensure that you can safely work from home with minimal cybersecurity risks:
- You must have a comprehensive anti-virus and internet security suite installed.
- If you use a webcam, make sure you have a webcam cover placed on it when not in use.
- You must use a VPN to connect to the corporate cloud.
- Check if your router and firewall are configured and the in-home Wi-Fi is secure.
- Your software must be up to date.
- Avoid oversharing your screen and be mindful of the background content to avoid exposing any personal information that is not needed.
The Bottom Line
As the working-from-home trend continues to grow popular globally, cybersecurity has become one of the areas of major concern. By implementing the aforementioned best remote working security practices, you can steer clear of invasion by any potential hackers, viruses, or malware attacks.
