It’s not uncommon to be working from home these days, although the need for safety is no less crucial. When you’re working from home, there’s another means of being safe you should be concerned with: online security.
You might think you know everything about online security, but there are still loopholes for cyberattacks if you’re not careful. Read on to find out our Orlando IT company‘s advice on how to stay secure when you work from home.
Staying Secure While You Work From Home: Cybersecurity
Keep Devices Separate
There’s a difference between losing personal information, and losing company information. While both can be damaging and costly, you can reduce the risk of both coming under cyberattack.
If you have a computer designated for work, and another for personal use, keep it that way. Don’t use your work PC for personal activity, and vice versa. It can be a hassle but if only one is under attack, at least the other can remain safe.
Don’t Dismiss Updates
If you’ve been noticing update notifications, don’t dismiss them. Sometimes, updates are just to enhance the user experience of the software or device. However, many times, these updates also include patches and updates for security purposes.
Even if a company doesn’t advertise a security flaw, or have a major breach, that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. These updates are to prevent those security problems before they occur.
Get Your Passwords in Check
If you’re like most people, updating your password doesn’t happen nearly enough. While many cybersecurity experts recommend changing your password every six months, few of us adhere to this rule.
One reason we don’t change out passwords often enough is because in this day and age, it can be difficult to keep track of all our different passwords. A good, secure password manager can help you with this.
On the topic of passwords and different accounts, you might be using the same or similar password(s) for most of your accounts. This is a major cybersecurity risk.
If a hacker gets one of your passwords, chances are that they can get into your other accounts too. Don’t use easy, personal passwords. The best passwords are more complicated strings of letters, numbers, and symbols. Again, if these are hard to remember, using a secure password manager can help.
Secure the Physical Area
Not all data is compromised through remote attacks. If you have devices with valuable personal or business information stored on them, keep them in a safe place.
Nobody wants to imagine a break-in, but thieves often steal computers, phones, and other devices with sensitive information. Make sure you always know where your devices are, and keep them in a secured area.
Reconsider Two Step Authentication
It can be annoying when you have to enter a code from your smartphone to access an account on your PC. However, every extra step you have to take to log in is another shield from a cyber attack.
Even if a hacker or thief gains access to your computer, they won’t be able to access your accounts without having access to your phone as well. It works both ways. Even if your phone is stolen, thieves can’t get your information or make purchases unless they have another way to verify your identity.
Stop Ignoring Your Anti-Virus Software
Does anti-virus software seem like a thing of the past? It shouldn’t. A solid firewall and strong antivirus software is your first line of protection against cyber threats. Use a reputable software, and keep it updated!
Conclusion
Staying safe when you work from home has a lot to do with keeping your information secure. Remember, keep your devices separate, use strong passwords, and do everything you can to make it hard for hackers to steal your information. If it takes longer for you to log in, it takes them longer to attack too.