COVID-19 has got us all stuck at home. People from all walks of life are asked to shift online. The closure of educational institutions has initiated online learning. Likewise, offices have been shut down which is why people are working from home. So is the case for shopping, ordering, making payments, etc.

When life shifts to the internet, security is one major risk that follows, especially for online businesses. There are thousands of cybercrimes taking place daily.

The question is how you are going to keep yourself away from the security thefts?

The article is going to familiarize you with some of the most important tips regarding online security.

Security risks for Online Workers

Out of so many security threats come along online security systems some of the major threats that online workers face are mentioned below:

Usage of public Wi-Fi networks:

Workers who use unsecured Wi-Fi networks can come across various security thefts. There is no data protection in such types of networks and the confidential information of the workers can be accessed by anyone.

Increase the number of cyber scams:

With the shift of work to online platforms, there are more chances of scams targeting online workers. Therefore, hackers might come up with several different hacks to get access to the user’s data.

Usage of personal devices:

Some companies do not provide devices to work at home. Hence the workers are compelled to use their own devices and networks. These workers do not necessarily have proper antivirus software, customized firewalls, and automatic online backup tools in their devices which often lead to hacking. As a result, important information about the company might be leaked.

Now as to your awareness of all the risks followed by online working, some ways that you can prevent yourself from malicious programs are given next.

Measures to Protect Your Online Security:

During crises like coronavirus, companies have difficulty planning how businesses will run online. Though some organizations have already made a work from a home plan, if your organization has not then you must follow security tips mentioned below:

Use unique and strong passwords:

One of the easiest ways to give access to hackers of your personal information is by setting weak passwords. Every account of yours should have a very strong and unique password. Hackers make use of credential stuffing to get access to other accounts of a person using one password. Hence to protect all your accounts, you must use different passwords for different accounts.

However, if you have difficulty in managing all those passwords, you can save your all password in password managers which can be downloaded online, e.g.  LastPass, KeePass.

Add two-step verification:

Two-step verification is a security tool to protect your online accounts. With this, an additional layer of security added along with strong passwords. In the two-factor authentication, you can add your biometric, email, phone number, birth date, etc. for confirmation. So whenever anyone will try to log in to your account you will be notified.

Make use of a VPN:

Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows in creating a secure connection within networks. These can encrypt your traffic thus enabling safe surfing. Except for you, no one can read the encryption.

There are numerous VPN’s presently online. To enable the best performance online, a great VPN is a must, for instance, ExpressVPN, Perimeter 81, and Scribe Force. These VPNs are known for their high speed, great reliability, and less cost.

Install Firewalls:

Almost all devices come with built-in firewalls for enabling high security. The name firewall is given because they build a wall between the device you are using and the internet. This closes the communication ports and hence prevents the entry of malicious software.

If your device does not have a built-in firewall, then you can install one online. The ones on the internet are both free and paid. Some of the best free options of firewalls include Zone Alarm Free Firewall 2019, AVS Firewall, etc. 

Get Good Antivirus Software:

Like firewalls, antivirus software is another tool to protect your privacy. In case, the malware programs somehow manage to get into your device, the antivirus software can detect the malware program and remove it immediately.

People often find it difficult to choose the best antivirus software. Some of the best antivirus software’s are:

• NortonMcAfee
• Bitdefender

Make Sure That Your Router Is Secured

People who lack technical knowledge do not bother checking their router often. It is as important to keep up with your router like it is to install antivirus software or a firewall.

Some tips to secure your router are:

• Change the password of your router often
• Set encryption to WPA2 or WPA3
• Check firmware updates
• Restrict traffic, i.e., inbound, and outbound

Constantly Backup the Data of your Device:

When working from, a lot of data is stored on the device. There are chances of losing the data in case of cyber-attacks, hacking, device updates, etc.

However, backing up the data will keep you on a safe side. Even if your device comes across any of the security threats, you will not lose your important data.  

Most people back up their data in the cloud. These cloud backup services come with a variety of storage options, backup schedules, etc. You can even create a backup on I Drive and Back blaze. 

Keep an Eye on Targeted Phishing Attacks:

Cybercriminals are involved in phishing emails, voicemails, sites, etc to get personal information like credit card details, etc. Then they use the information for spear-phishing campaigns to commit big crimes.

This can be avoided by:

• Keep a check on the sender’s address e.g. the email ID, name, spelling errors.
• Not clicking unnecessary links in the mail
• Check the authenticity of sites before adding personal details

Conclusion: Due to advancements in technology, working from home is both comfortable and easy. But as technological advancements bring a lot of benefits, they bring risks too.  To combat all these online risks, applying the above-mentioned tips are a must.So, surf safely but do watch out for risks.