Even if you’ve been working remotely for months, it’s important to keep your guard up online.  Here are some key cybersecurity reminders for working at home.

The Basics

• Use a secure VPN. Add 2FA if it’s available.
• Sign out of apps throughout the day when you’re done using them.
• At the end of the day, close any open apps, log off your machine and sign out of the VPN.
• While it can be tempting, don’t share your work computer with anyone.
• Protect the laptop itself. Keep it out of harm’s way from unintentional mayhem. You don’t want little hands or paws unintentionally deleting files or sending emails.

Wi-Fi

• Use a unique password for wi-fi access. Make sure you’re not using the factory default password.
• Don’t attach to any open networks you might be able to see from your kitchen table or home office.
• Avoid letting those outside your household attach to your wi-fi.
• Use your phone as an internet hot spot if you’re not sure.

Email

Be as careful with email at home as you would be in the office.  Pay attention and take a few extra seconds to read each email.

Ways to “quick check” an email:

• Check the sender address. Does it look fake?
• If there’s a link, hover over it with your mouse. Does the link make sense?
• Are you expecting the email? Is it from someone you know but the request in unusual?  If so, call the sender to double-check.
• Is it from someone you don’t know and are not expecting?
• Pay attention to “scammer grammar”. Uncommon language use is a huge red flag.
• If anything in the email is suspicious, just delete it.

Remember, cybercriminals are counting on you to be distracted. Take a few extra seconds to read each email, and don’t click unless you’re sure the email is legitimate.

Texts

Be just as careful with texts as you are with email.  If you don’t know the sender or the text includes a random link, just delete it.

Passwords

Use a different password for every application and keep your passwords to yourself.

Vishing

Beware of phone calls claiming to be from your bank, credit card company, or other entity asking you for personal information or to “press 1” to verify your information.  Just hang up.

The same is true with a call claiming to be from “tech support”.  Know who your IT provider is and how to contact them.  Don’t respond to tech support calls you didn’t initiate.

You’ll be safer using these key cybersecurity reminders for working at home. If you’d like to know more about how CRU Solutions can help keep your business safer, contact us.