Staying Safe: Remote Work Cybersecurity
- Luiz
- Feb 8
- 3 min read
Table of Contents
Introduction - Remote Work Cybersecurity
Okay, so how do we stay safe working from home without becoming tech experts?
Let's focus on understanding your role and the common-sense measures you can take—remembering that your company's policies should always come first.
Password Practices
Let me start with the password thing. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the longer your password, the more secure it becomes.
While using a mix of characters is good, password length is the most critical factor in password strength.
Tip: Make a long password inspired by your favorite music or movie scene—something unique that no one else will guess.
Pick a password that’s auto generated. Studies show that people often have a hard time coming up with and remembering strong passwords. Your browser or device can handle that for you. Here’s more on how it works:
Use a password manager. It helps create strong passwords. Check expert reviews to find a good one, and ensure its password is strong and secure.
Remembering strong passwords is difficult. Your browser, device, and password manager can save and autofill them for you.
The best password is the one you don't even have to remember 😁
Checking for Compromised Credentials
Ever heard the term "pwned"?
In internet slang, it basically means "owned" or compromised. There's a really useful website called "Have I Been Pwned?" (haveibeenpwned.com).
You can go to this website and safely enter your email address and it will tell you if that email has been involved in any known data breaches.
If yes, you know what to do! 👀
To understand why working from home changes online safety, let’s first compare office and home setups:
Antivirus Software: To Use or Not to Use?
Company Devices: If your company gives you a laptop or phone, they usually manage the security. Make sure you keep it updated and follow any security prompts.
Personal Devices: If you use your own computer or phone for work (BYOD), security becomes more of your personal responsibility. This is where you have choices.
For some people, antivirus software can be a helpful layer of protection, especially if you're not super confident about spotting online threats or if other people use your device. It can catch some common viruses and malware.
However, if you're a more advanced user and understand how to browse safely, avoid suspicious links and downloads, and keep your software updated, Windows Defender and XProtect (on Apple devices) are enough.
Do I Really Need a VPN?
Let's talk about VPNs, because they get mentioned a lot with online security. There are two main types you need to know about:
Company VPNs: Essential for Work!
If your company gives you a VPN (Virtual Private Network), you absolutely need to use it when working remotely and accessing company systems. Think of it as a super secure tunnel that connects your home computer directly to your company's network. It encrypts your internet traffic and makes it much harder for outsiders to snoop on what you're doing.
Personal VPNs: You might see ads for personal VPN services that claim to make you "safer" online. For most everyday internet use, personal VPNs are NOT a major security feature. They can hide your IP address (your computer's internet address) and make it look like you're connecting from somewhere else. This can be useful if you want to watch videos or access websites that are blocked in your country. However, personal VPNs don't magically make you safe from viruses, phishing, or hackers.
When you use a personal VPN, you're basically routing your internet traffic through the VPN company's servers. You're now trusting the VPN provider with your data instead of your regular internet provider (ISP). If the VPN company has weak security or logs your activity, you could actually be less secure.
Some free VPNs can even be risky!
If you want to use one to access content from another country, that's fine.
But don't think it's a magic bullet for online security. Focus on the other safety tips we've talked about first!
By adhering to these remote work cybersecurity guidelines and maintaining a commitment to learning, you can establish a secure work-from-home setting without having to become a complete tech expert.
Stay safe and keep in mind that your company's policies serve as your primary defense.
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