Many of us have been forced to work from home due to the ongoing global pandemic. While the locale has changed, IT security remains an on-going concern. The key thing to remember while working from home is, “The basics of online safety have not changed.”
Here are a few best practices for at-home digital security:
- Ensure your devices are secure and updated
- Check that Windows and antivirus updates are installed
- Install reliable routers and firewalls and change the default password
- Know your firewall login to reduce online predators and perform updates regularly
- Use a digital password manager like LastPass or 1Password
- Use unique passwords for each account
Phishing and identity scams are the number one attack used to steal user credentials and gain access into networks. If an email is requesting urgent information, has an attachment you were not expecting, or is prompting you to click on a link, be wary. Verify the sender’s email address. Scammers can easily pretend to be someone you may know to get information from you.
Protect the data you access at home by using the right tools for the right task. Utilize business portals or virtual private networks (VPNs) to share files. Avoid using your personal Dropbox or OneDrive unless your corporate IT has set it up for you. Avoid sending business communication through a personal email account. Lastly, shut your computer down when not in use. Your computer will run better if it is updated and rebooted periodically and a computer that is turned off is nearly impossible to attack.
