{"id":776,"date":"2020-04-01T18:10:33","date_gmt":"2020-04-01T18:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imageoneway.com\/blog\/4-smart-cybersecurity-tips-for-working-from-home"},"modified":"2023-12-20T19:08:20","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T19:08:20","slug":"smart-cybersecurity-tips-for-working-from-home-during-coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imageoneway.com\/blog\/smart-cybersecurity-tips-for-working-from-home-during-coronavirus","title":{"rendered":"4 Smart Cybersecurity Tips for Working From Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you one of the thousands\u2014maybe even millions<\/a>\u2014of people now working from home due to coronavirus? If so, it\u2019s probably a sudden and surprising transition, especially if you\u2019ve never experienced the WFH life before.<\/p>\n

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Sure. Your commute might now consist of walking down the hall, and you can work the day away in pajamas (or at least sweatpants if you\u2019re on a Zoom meeting). But we don\u2019t have to tell you that working remotely has plenty of challenges too.<\/p>\n

Aside from frustrations like battling constant distractions or missing your lunch hour buddies, working from home can also lead to serious problems that you might not be thinking about\u2014like proper cybersecurity for your home office.<\/p>\n

A company\u2019s lack of proper cybersecurity measures<\/a>, strategies, and best practices for remote workers are some of the most common and serious oversights. Without a physical IT or tech team on hand to ensure effective network security procedures are being followed, typical safeguards fall by the wayside.<\/p>\n

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This lapse can quickly lead to dire\u2014and expensive\u2014consequences including stolen customer information, leaked financial records, phishing scams, malware, and so much more.<\/p>\n

In short, working from home isn\u2019t an excuse to get lax about keeping your business’s online security. In fact, remote life makes it even more<\/i> of your responsibility than it was back at the office.<\/p>\n

However, if you\u2019re not quite sure how to battle these online threats while remote, worry not. Check out our favorite cybersecurity tips while working from home:<\/p>\n

1. Be Careful When Opening That Email!<\/span><\/h2>\n

Although the pandemic has brought positivity and goodwill out of many, it\u2019s done the exact opposite for the more vile among us who are just looking for a quick buck.<\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, this includes those ever-present hackers and cybercriminals<\/a>. They\u2019re eager to use our current state of mass fear, misinformation, and confusion as a lure to get into computer networks and wreak personal and financial havoc.<\/p>\n

In fact, since the panic around COVID-19 started rising, so have phishing email scams to a staggering <\/strong>667% according to <\/strong>Infosecurity Magazine<\/i><\/strong><\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of the most common coronavirus-related cyberattacks include scams that trick people into handing over personal information or unknowingly downloading malware in \u201cexchange\u201d for fake financial or government aid. Others ask people to donate to phony fundraising campaigns for a vaccine or medical supplies. Unfortunately, there are many more examples.<\/p>\n

To fight against these online predators, unless you can verify exactly<\/i><\/strong> where each email comes from, never click on a link,<\/i><\/strong> and definitely don\u2019t give the sender any personal information. Though we wish these times only brought the best out of people, sometimes it truly brings out the worst.<\/p>\n

Every time you open that inbox, please, be cautious.<\/p>\n

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2. Store and Transfer Your Files Securely<\/span><\/h2>\n

In the office, it\u2019s likely that your IT team takes the lead when it comes to network and file exchange security.<\/a> However, while working from home, you might not have the same access to IT experts who can securely set up your workstation or guide you in proper safe document storage techniques.<\/p>\n

Though we still encourage reaching out to IT professionals to ensure that all best practices are closely followed, here are a few ways to secure your files while working from home:<\/p>\n