Remote working has become prevalent across many sectors due to the pandemic. And even with the world reopening, many organizations have found the benefits of offering their workers the option to work remotely. The last couple of years has also normalized home-based online businesses as more technology becomes available to make online communications and transactions more trustworthy.
Unfortunately, the uptick in remote workers and home-based businesses has also led to a disturbing rise in cybercrime. Malicious actors want to take advantage of people who don’t practice good cybersecurity practices and expose themselves to vulnerabilities. So if you’re not careful, you may be the next victim of a phishing attack, data theft, ransomware, or identity theft. Whether you work for an organization or run a business remotely, you should be prepared for cyber incidents. Here are some cybersecurity tips for remote workers and business owners:
Don’t ignore software updates
Don’t perceive constant updates as a nuisance. Install the latest software on your devices as soon as they become available. When you receive an alert that a software update has been released, don’t ignore it. Cybercrime is constantly evolving, forcing software to keep up and mitigate risks and vulnerabilities. These operating software updates and changes may address security flaws, helping safeguard your data.
Educate yourself on the latest phishing scams
Clicking the wrong attachment or link could unleash malware onto your device, causing system disruption. And if you’re not paying attention, you may click a link that looks like it was provided by someone you trust, and you end up providing a hacker with all your data, allowing them to steal your identity or your money.
Cybercriminals are getting craftier. And as someone who works in an interconnected space, you need to be vigilant. Be especially wary about links and attachments that take you away from the page you’re currently on, especially if you need to re-login and provide your username and password. Think twice about forms that ask for personal information, double check email domain spellings, grammatical or spelling errors in text, and other suspicious language in emails. Be extra cautious anytime there’s an email related to money, such as an invoice or other requests for payment.
Be mindful of public Wi-Fi
As a remote worker, you won’t always be in your home office. Maybe you need a break and want to work at a park. Or maybe you’re meeting a potential client at a coffee shop. However, before you open your laptop, tablet, or other devices, remember that public Wi-Fi isn’t secure. And hackers could be nearby waiting to hijack your sessions when you use an unsecured network.
Rather than use public Wi-Fi, it’s better to use mobile data, which is usually encrypted. If you absolutely must use public Wi-Fi, don’t access personal or financial information. Only log in or send confidential information to sites you are certain are fully encrypted.
For more advice on remote work and business opportunities, connect with me today.
