In recent months coronavirus has spread around the world and having a massive impact on society. One of the biggest changes for many businesses is the shift to remote working. Working from home is very different from working at the office especially when it comes to cybersecurity.
Here are some simple cybersecurity tips to help keep confidential information secure while you are working remotely during the Coronavirus lockdown.
Use two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a free security feature offered by many apps and websites as an extra layer of protection when logging in to an account.
This works by asking you to provide a second piece of information. This is normally a code sent to the phone number linked to the account.
It works by asking you to provide a second piece of information – normally a code sent as a text to the phone number linked to the account – when logging in to prove who you are.
Create a strong password
Using weak or common passwords is the easiest way to get hacked, so you should instead look to create longer passwords made up of three random but memorable words. In online security, the longer and more unusual a password is, the stronger it becomes and therefore is harder to guess or hack. Look into using a password manager that encrypts your passwords, for example, Lastpass, Dashlane, 1Password
Keep Programs Updated and Operating system
Best practice for cybersecurity is taking the time to keep your operating system and programs update. These updates often include patches to new vulnerabilities that are found in software which could be exploited by cybercriminals to infiltrate your devices. Cybercriminals rely on people neglecting to install these updates so it is important to regularly update any device that you use for work purposes. In addition, it is often possible to activate auto-updates on your device to help keep you up to date.
Back up your data
If one of your devices is ever hacked, it is possible that personal data on it could be lost, damaged or stolen. Ransomware attackers can also lock a device or access to data unless users agree to pay a ransom to release it.To combat these issues, users should ensure they keep a copy of their important information and data by backing it up. Many operating systems and apps offer ways to do this as part of their service.
Beware Covid-19 related scams
Internet criminals have widely exploited the Covid-19 outbreak in numerous phishing and scam campaigns. If you get emails with any suspicious links or attachments related to Covid-19, don’t open them. Better safe than sorry. Other phishing emails can be encountered as well.
Use an Antivirus Software
It is essential that you install antivirus software on any of your devices that are used to access confidential data from work. Good antivirus software can act as a line of defence by detecting and blocking known malware. If you are hesitant to invest your own money on a security solution, there are a number of free antivirus solutions available that will reduce the risk of getting infected. Norton, Mcaffee are some recommended options to look for if you don’t already have antivirus software.
Get a VPN
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) can help protect the data you send and receive while you work from home. A VPN is an extremely useful tool for both protecting data as it is moved from the office network and your device.A VPN provides an additional layer of security which hides the user’s IP address, encrypts data transfers while in transit and masks the user’s location.
Lock your device
If you live with people and who you can’t share work information with, then it’s important to keep your device secure. Any one can catch your work email or private documents while you are away from your computer.
If you are looking for more protection, you can use additional disk encryption took such as Veracrypt or Bitlocker. If you are using windows10 Bitlocker comes with Windows10Pro.
Working remotely can be a big challenge and new to a lot of people it’s important that you make the effort to protect your work and your security and well-being during this time.
