Secure Your Home Office and Devices

Leaving your laptop unlocked, even in your home can be harmful as it opens the work to unauthorized access. One of the important cybersecurity tips for remote workers is locking your screen before walking away will be common practice, even for a short time. For that reason, be sure you have automatic lockups on all your devices. This feature locks the screens after a default period of inactivity, ensuring that peace of mind even when you forget.

Strengthen Your Home Network and Use VPN

Your home Wi-Fi is the foundation of your remote work setup, and its security is crucial for you. You should start by changing the default password on your router to a unique and unpredictable so that it's difficult to guess. Ensure your network is encrypted using WPA2 or WPA3 protocols to keep unauthorized users out or using an encryption key size of 256 bits. You can pair this with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your online activity while connecting to public networks to have an extra layer of security.

Update, Update, Update!

Best cybersecurity tips for remote workers are updating your devices and software. Outdated software often contains vulnerabilities that hackers can use to hack that sensitive information. Developers release patches and updates to fix these gaps, so installing them promptly is crucial. Enable automatic updates to stay protected without needing to remember. This habit ensures your operating systems, browsers, and apps are always equipped to fend off emerging threats.

Enable Encryption on Your Devices

Another remote working security tips you can consider is device encryption as it is a powerful tool that safeguards your sensitive data, especially if your device has been theft or lost. Encryption makes sure your data is accessible only with a password, PIN, or biometric authentication. You can take few minutes to enable encryption. We will be sharing the steps which will help you in enabling them in different devices:

Windows

• Sign in as an administrator: Make sure you're signed in with an administrator account
• Open Settings: Go to Settings and select Privacy & security
• Select Device encryption: Select Device encryption and turn it on

Mac

• Go to System Preferences: Go to System Preferences and select Security & Privacy
• Select FileVault and click Turn On FileVault
• Note the recovery key: Make a note of the recovery key and store it away from your Mac

On Mobile Devices:

• Android: Search for "security" or "encrypt". Set a complex passcode with at least six characters and at least one number.
• iOS: Enable a passcode by going to Settings > Touch ID / Face ID and Password > Enable Password.

Keep Work and Personal Devices Separate

Combining work and personal activities on the same device might seem easy, but it increases the cybersecurity risks. Personal devices are less secure comparatively than work devices and having a single hacked app or file could expose the sensitive professional data at risk. Remote working security tips suggests maintaining clear boundaries by using dedicated devices for work and personal use. This separation can reduce the chances of corrupting the data and helps keep both your professional and private information safe.

Use Antivirus Software

Antivirus software acts as your First Aid against viruses and online threats. It scans files and downloads for malware and alerts you to potential risks. You should invest in a genuine antivirus program and always update it to make sure that you’re protected against the latest cyber threats. However, it is also important to understand that there is no software that guarantees 100% security, having an antivirus software can reduce the chances of a successful hack attempt and is known as best cybersecurity tips for remote workers.

Activate "Find My Device" and Remote Wipe

Losing a device is a big trouble which can risk your data. But there are tools like "Find My Device" can help you locate your lost or theft laptops, tablets, or phones. Additionally, if you have enabled remote wipe out on your device, it will allow you to erase your sensitive data if locating the device becomes impossible. This can help you in protecting your data and activating them is a must for all remote workers. We are also sharing the steps on how to activate both on your devices. However, these do have some disclaimers that you should read before performing the following actions:

Find My Device

• Android Device:

- Sign in to a Google Account on your device
- Turn on location services
- Turn on Find My Device

• iOS Device:

- Open the Settings app
- Tap your name, then tap Find My Device
- Turn on Find My [device]

Remote Wipe Out

•Android Device:

- Go to google.com/android/find on a computer
- Sign in to the same Google Account you used on your phone
- Select Set up secure & erase to set up remote lock and erase actions

• iOS Device:

- Go to iCloud and sign in to your Apple Account
- Select the device you want to erase
- Click Erase This Device
- Follow the onscreen instructions

Watch Out for Phishing Attempts

Phishing scams is a common form of cyberattacks. This type of scams has important or urgent form of emails or messages that tricks you into clicking the scamming links or revealing sensitive data. As a cybersecurity tips for remote workers it is suggested to research these sorts of communication. By verifying the sender’s identity and avoiding clicking on any links can save you from a potential scam. Staying focused against phishing is a critical skill for every remote worker

Conclusion

In remote working culture, cybersecurity becomes an important factor to look after. Using these practices can help in protecting your data and maintaining your peace of mind. If you are taking these precautions, you are creating a secure remote environment, where both your personal and professional information is safe from the threats. Always remember that - precaution is better than the cure!