As many of us are working from home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, now is the time to be especially vigilant when it comes to protecting personal and business data online.
Here are three tips to help secure your data.
1. Use a virtual private network (VPN).
Securing employee access with a VPN can give employees the same amount of access to the corporate network within a secure tunnel and encrypts traffic between those networks. Using a VPN gives those working from home an extra layer of protection from hackers.
2. Don’t fall for phishing scams.
Be vigilant about phishing emails, malicious attachments and web browsing as those working from home are facing an “unprecedented” amount of scams using the fears created by the coronavirus pandemic. Phishing emails, texts and phone calls can be disguised as coming from business associates, colleagues and even family members. Know what to look for in a email phishing scam. Be careful on what is coming into your inbox or phone, who it’s coming from and where it’s driving you.
3. Know how to safely use public Wi-Fi.
While we are practicing social distancing and not gathering in public places right now, some areas are offering free public Wi-Fi for those who need it. Make sure your information remains secure. This includes using endpoint security enabled on each one of your connected devices to secure your connection.
Bonus tip: Another way to help protect your personal and business data is to implement two-factor authentication (2FA). Whether it’s hosting virtual meetings on platforms such as Google Hangouts or Microsoft Teams, you can add extra protection with 2FA because it requires you to verify with another device that it is, in fact, you logging into an account.
Another way to help monitor your information is identity theft protection. This protection helps allow you to monitor your credit and identity and alerts you to suspicious activity so you can act quickly if a hacker has stolen your information.