4 Ways to Stay Safe at Work While Working Remotely
To protect your job as you go remote, follow these tips from tech expert Burton Kelso.
Raise awareness
As more people work from home, they may be exposed to viruses and other online dangers that may not threaten their physical health but could put their businesses at risk. Individuals without the support of an IT team may be more vulnerable to fraud.
To protect your business, follow these tips from tech expert Burton Kelso.
Ensure strong internet and wifi connection
Download speeds lower than 30 mbps can lead to problems accessing your office's virtual private network, cloud storage services, or video conferencing calls. To boost your home Wi-Fi speed, consider add-ons like Google's "mesh" Wi-Fi router system, which can blanket an area with a stronger signal, or TP-Link's Powerline adapter system, which turns the electrical wiring inside your walls into an Ethernet network. When working remotely, use your phone as a mobile hotspot if your plan allows it. Whenever you have to log on to free, unsecured public Wi-Fi, turn on a VPN service, like TunnelBear or NordVPN, to keep your data more secure.
Set up automatic data backup
Use cloud-based products to protect your business from data loss, using companies like Carbonite or BackBlaze. For Apple devices, you can use iCloud. Google Drive and Google Photos offer cloud services for PCs, Android and Apple devices.
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Beware of scams
Most cyberattacks require user interaction—that is, you have to click on a phishing link. In a remote work environment, it's harder to rely on your IT department's safety net. Phishing scams, in which malicious URLs are disguised as benign text, are the most common type of attack.
Usepasswordstrong
Consider using passphrases for your passwords. Passphrases are unrelated words that you string together to create a password (e.g., "YellowOctopus" or "StuffyTar"). Add numbers and special characters to make them stronger. Avoid weak passwords related to your personal life, and don't reuse passwords or passphrases for different accounts. Use a password manager, such as LastPass, to keep track of your passwords. Set up two-factor authentication for your accounts whenever possible. Change your passwords immediately if you suspect a breach./.
