Seven Reasons Why Work From Home Is Affecting Data Security

As the pandemic is spreading across the world, the number of remote workers is also increasing. The remote workforce is getting popular with the strict implementation of self-isolation and social- distancing. Today, many remote workers are working from home with advanced technology and the facilities of digital space.

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COVID-19 has changed the whole scenario overnight. All the companies and businesses are changing their online working system to tackle this difficult time. Simultaneously, we all have to pay attention to the risks that come attached to this online system.

The workload is increasing, and at this time, all the attackers and hackers are on the prowl. Earlier than this pandemic, it was easy to manage the security system. But now, the only thing that should be foremost in our thoughts is security risk awareness. If not, then there is a possibility of everything getting chaotic and messy. Here we are doing this job and making you all aware of the security risks of remote working.

Cybersecurity threats and risks of online remote workers-

First, online remote working is not only limited to the work from home in COVID 19. Yes, there is a privilege for all the workers to do work from the place where they live. But the companies must be attentive towards the cybersecurity issues during work from home as well.

Many risks existed from earlier times, but a sharp increase has been noticed in this period. Whenever we allow a short relaxation in the security system, it becomes an opportunity for hackers. We have underlined a few of the enormous cybersecurity risks in the below-mentioned points:

• Email and phone scams-

Currently, all the employees are working from their place. Most of the time, they require downloading new tools and software. Due to a lot of work and less understanding of the new system, these workers become unsafe from email and phone scams.

Often, few emails allege a verification of an old system into a new one and persuade workers to provide their details. There is a dire need to be cautious about these kinds of scams that demand any code or password.

• Unassertive passwords-

When an employee uses a simple password, he/she is giving a golden opportunity to a hacker. It is effortless and smooth for an attacker to crack these kinds of passwords. As a consequence, hackers will easily access your information through many accounts within minutes.

• Malware and identity theft-

With the hyper spread of coronavirus, people are getting closer to malware and identity thefts. Due to unawareness, they keep on clicking links to get updates on COVID. And we all know clicking links is not a difficult task for anybody.

These people embellish the links with WHO branding, cost-effective face masks, sanitizers, and numerous other product ads to make these links more attractive. Innocent people get caught in this trap and become another victim of malware and phishing.

This link scam is not limited to this point only. These competent hackers know that all the students and remote workers are using Skype, Microsoft Teams, and zoom-like applications that need a link to get connected. So, they send a link and claim that they are getting late for an urgent meeting and accomplish their motive.

• Fraud login screens-

Sometimes, there is a sudden appearance of a fake login screen, and the employees unintentionally fill all their details into them. Usually, beginners get caught in this scam. These new remote workers are unique to every software and tool. This unfamiliarity attracts them towards these fraud login screens. Ultimately, the attackers get all the needed details of the company and the system.

• Home Wi-Fi Security-

In the offices of companies, there are IT managers and technicians who are controlling the safety and security of Wi-Fi connectivities and networks. But when it comes to home, employees may have feeble or weaker protocols. This ease of insecurity provides a favor to the hackers, and they can approach your crucial data.

• Less security coating-

The Local area networks are most commonly used in today's enterprises. The employees who manage their work through these secured networks come out with firewalls and other tools. These tools and software assist the workers in eliminating these security risks.

But in the absence of these security tools, the employees get vulnerable to different kinds of risks. At the same time, when we connect our system to an unsafe Wi-Fi network, we are getting prone to risks.

•   Double-dealing Employees around them-

Woefully, completely trusting a person is not a good decision for any person. Same thing goes for the remote workers as well. At this time of remote working, it has become effortless and trouble-free to transfer the data to any place as they have complete access these days.

Here, the employers must implement some control measures and allow only a few workers to access the company's data. By doing so, companies can make their data safe.

Only employees don't need to be stealing the data. They are working from home and living with housemates. Who knows who is spiteful or not? There must be some rules and regulations for the employees to manage all the company's confidential information and reduce the cybersecurity risks for remote workers.

On the whole-

While concluding, the only thing is to investigate anything that is looking suspicious. Build many layers of security in your online remote working system. Build out your protection by implementing various cybersecurity strategies. There is a need for proper security administration via engineers and cybersecurity technicians.

Few best remote cybersecurity practices to lessen the cyberattacks on remote workers are:

• Apply encrypted communication tools
• Setup VPN
• Try to avoid data sharing and transferring
• Physical security
• Always have a data backup