Hi Geeks – especially to all Geeks who are working from home these days! This month, we have some tips for you on how to keep your data and devices secure when working from home.
During the lockdowns, as many as four in 10 of us worked from home.
And even though New Zealand looks to be done with the lockdowns, there are plenty of people who have made the switch for good. This is great news for anyone avoiding morning commutes, public transport, and parking hassles. But it can have a negative impact on your cyber security. That’s because we’re all used to employers setting up and maintaining security measures in the office. However, if you’re working from home, it’s much harder to put measures in place for yourself.
So here are our top cyber security tips for anyone working from home.
Never use unsecured public Wi-Fi
The best thing about remote working is that you can work anywhere. That’s why many workers will pop down to a local café to put in their hours. However, be extremely cautious of public Wi-Fi. If you’re going to use it, don’t log into anything that contains sensitive information, such as your bank or a work intranet.
If you are going to use one, be sure to look for the ‘s’ in https at the beginning of every website address, and keep your software updated. If you are on a Windows device, make sure your network profile is set to public.
Pro Tip: The use of a VPN when using public Wi-Fi is a really good way of protecting yourself. This encrypts the traffic from your computer so even if someone is snooping in on the networking, you will remain protected.
Source: Malwarebytes.
Set up two-factor (or multi-factor) authentication
Two- and multi-factor authentication is a system where there is more than one step for signing in. For example, you might need your password plus a correct answer to a question to sign in. Most software services offer multi-factor authentication these days. Your phone and laptop may offer facial recognition and/or fingerprint recognition, as well as a password. Whatever authentication options are available, set them up for greater security on your devices. This means that even if hackers figure out your password, there will be a second and possibly third line of defense.
Source: CERT NZ.
Use security software
A full suite of security software can help to protect your devices from malware and spyware attacks. This can help you to ward off viruses, trojans, and even phishing scams if you accidentally click on one.
Once you’ve set it up, this software runs in the background and constantly works to protect your data. Then, ensure that you install any updates as they come through for the best protection.
Use a separate device for your family
Whether it’s a partner, a teen, or a smaller child, the family probably won’t follow the same security measures as you do for work. That’s why it’s vital to use a separate device as your family computer, rather than allowing everyone to log on with your work computer. Of course, you’ll need to use security software on your family devices and teach everyone about good internet safety, but keeping work and family hardware separate helps to ensure any slip ups won’t impact your work.
Enhance your home Wi-Fi security
There are several simple steps you can take to boost the security of your Wi-Fi connection at home.
For a start, update the password. Many people simply use the password and network name that come with the router. But by creating your own name and difficult password, you’ll make it more difficult for potential hackers to access your network.
You can also double-check to ensure that you have enabled network encryption under your security settings.
And as always, ensure all of your software is up to date.
Source: Google.
Working from home with help from the Geeks
Geeks on Wheels offer a couple of handy options for those working from home. You could sign up for Geek+ Business and get access to an annual health check, free hard drive & backup checks, security assistance, and much more.
Or, you can simply give us a call whenever you need us on 0800 424 335 and book an appointment for advice and assistance.
Get in touch to find out more today.