4 ways to stay safe at work when working remotely.
To protect your job when you work remotely, follow these tips from tech expert Burton Kelso.
Increase vigilance.
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 IT team support may be more vulnerable to scams.
To protect your business, follow these tips from tech expert Burton Kelso.
Ensure you have a strong internet and Wi-Fi connection.
Download speeds below 30 Mbps can lead to issues when accessing your office's virtual private network, cloud storage services, or video conferencing calls. To speed up your home Wi-Fi, consider add-ons like Google's "mesh" Wi-Fi router system, which can cover an area with a stronger signal, or TP-Link's Powerline adapter system, which turns the wiring inside 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 in using free, insecure public Wi-Fi, turn on a VPN service, such as TunnelBear or NordVPN, to keep your data safer.
Set up automatic data backup
Use cloud-based products to protect your business from data loss, such as those offered by companies like Carbonite or BackBlaze. For Apple devices, you can use iCloud. Google Drive and Google Photos offer cloud services for PCs, Android devices, and Apple devices.
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Beware of scams.
Most cybersecurity attacks require user interaction—meaning you have to click on phishing links. In a remote work environment, relying on the IT department's security network is more difficult. Phishing scams, where URLs containing malicious code 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 do not 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 password immediately if you suspect a breach.