The world is gradually adopting remote working as a preferred working style. Over the years, this method has improved employee productivity and thus produced impressive results for employers. But among many advantages, remote working also has its disadvantages – one of which poses a cyber security threat.
Telecommuting can expose workplace computer systems to hacking and phishing as a result of the lack of direct oversight of individual computer security. So what threats do employees and employers face? And how can you deal with them?
What are the cyber security risks of telecommuting?
By being able to identify the cyber security risks that every remote worker faces, it will be easy to deal with them accordingly.
1. Unsecure Wi-Fi
One of the benefits of telecommuting is the ability to work from anywhere in the world. You can use free public Wi-Fi wherever you are, whether it’s a coffee shop or an extension of a restaurant.
While this is great, public Wi-Fi can expose corporate data on your systems to cybercriminals. And because such Wi-Fi lacks encryption, cybercriminals can access confidential information or monitor your internet traffic at will.
Even worse, these cybercriminals can steal your identity or sensitive details, posing serious data insecurity to your organization. In addition to other dangers of using public Wi-Fi networks, cybercriminals can steal information through malware and you can be completely unaware of this, making it a terrible scenario.
2. Unsecured corporate network
For companies that adopt remote working, it is common to use company networks to transfer data and communicate with each other. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, CISA, reports that hackers are targeting a wide range of corporate networks, and this is possible if their network equipment suffers from major vulnerabilities.
A few examples of these vulnerabilities include weak passwords, outdated software applications, and unsecured emails. Hackers use these to attack the company’s system, causing a data breach.
3. Susceptible to phishing and ransomware
Susceptibility to phishing and ransomware is a serious cybersecurity challenge. Employees may click fake pop-up messages or email links that were targeted by hackers online. In this way, cybercriminals can steal passwords and prevent users from accessing their computer system.
Or cybercriminals can obtain corporate information and impersonate the business or personnel, including their websites and media platforms. They then trick unsuspecting individuals into revealing their sensitive data, such as passwords, causing a dent in the organization’s integrity.
Ransomware locks you out of your systems completely, while phishing impersonates an authority or organization. Both scenarios are common to small and large businesses.
4. Vulnerable hardware
A hardware vulnerability is a system weakness that results in a direct attack on the hardware. In this case, it is the remote worker. Remote workers use their phones and other handy gadgets while they work, which can expose their systems to hackers.
Cybercriminals can introduce viruses into hardware when these devices are not protected. A remote worker using an old system or unprotected storage device will also be susceptible to cyber security threats. And one way to avoid this is to use hardware security keys to prevent cases of compromised passwords due to hardware vulnerabilities.
How to protect yourself from the cyber security risks of remote work
So now you know what threats you face. But how can you deal with them?
1. Use an antivirus and Internet security
Antivirus scans and eliminates threats to prevent data corruption in a system. By using an antivirus as a preventive measure, you can protect your system from viruses, malware and surveillance networks.
A good example of internet security is the firewall. These act as barriers to incoming traffic on a computer system and as protection for private networks. As a remote worker, installing a standard firewall tool will provide top security, especially when visiting sites that are prone to phishing.
2. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
VPNs are one of the best ways to protect your privacy as a remote worker. With VPNs, you can log into your computer network using public Wi-Fi without fear of being monitored or hacked by cybercriminals. In addition to protecting your privacy, VPNs serve as a shield for your online activities.
With VPNs, you can visit and log into any website without being targeted. Using remote access is a good way to protect employees. There are paid VPNs that ensure security. However, there are also free VPNs for PCs that can provide decent enough protection.
3. Add a centralized storage solution
In this case, employers provide remote workers with a central location to store sensitive information. This way, it is less likely to fall into the hands of cybercriminals. As an external employee, all company data, including passwords and customer data, should be stored in a centralized location.
It is also easy to monitor the data security of a single terminal and offer solutions in the event of a data breach. The easy way to do this is to host a virtual environment where remote workers can consistently log in and access any sensitive data they may need.
4. Secure your home Wi-Fi
As a remote worker, the responsibility for cyber security also falls to you. To secure your home Wi-Fi, you need to change the default username and password that the Wi-Fi came with to something unique. You can change this periodically.
In addition to changing passwords, it is also important to hide your network. You can do this by using the Service Set Identifier (SSID) feature on Wi-Fi. Another measure is to update the router software.
Wi-Fi network encryption is a great way to secure your home Wi-Fi. Fortunately, most WPA2 and WPA3 routers have encryption options that allow your Wi-Fi network to encrypt all data from your device. This way, only you will have access to your network, and the only way anyone can gain access is to log into your network.
5. Avoid intrusion by third parties at work
Avoiding third-party control or intrusion at work is an ideal way to deal with cyber security issues. When there is a data breach in a third-party application, it is likely to affect your systems and can always leave you vulnerable to cybercriminals. If possible, cut off all third-party monitoring, a good step towards avoiding data leakage at work.
However, if third-party applications are required, an organization must discuss them with the vendors to ensure that all security holes are addressed accordingly. This process includes recovery methods in the event of a future data breach. From the remote worker’s side, it is wise to avoid third-party apps that require sensitive data.
Learn the basics of cyber security as a remote worker
While greater cybersecurity responsibility rests with the organization you work for, you also need to learn basic cybersecurity practices as a remote worker to keep risks at bay. This way, you will be able to recognize and avoid them when they occur. By taking cyber security courses and navigating the web safely, you will be less vulnerable to hacking.
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