Claranet Cyber Security – Quick read checklist for Secure Remote Working
Secure remote working
Hundreds of thousands of us are now working from home and, thankfully, most experience no
security issues. Nevertheless, working remotely means we all need to take extra responsibility for
security. The likelihood of an attack is greater, usually a phishing email, and the expensive
defensive measures at the office are not there to protect us.
Here are some simple steps we can employ to ensure we remain
secure when working remotely:
Using your own PC or
laptop?
If you are using a device supplied by your employer, then you will
probably already have antivirus software. If not, and you are
using your own device, you must make sure that you keep your
antivirus up-to-date. If you are running Windows, Microsoft
Defender is a perfectly good option and there are several free
versions available on the internet.
Additionally, many legacy Windows operating systems are now
out of support so may become vulnerable. Ensure a minimum OS
v
ersion is being used. XP and Windows 7 should no longer be
used, for example.
Public Wi - Fi
Where possible, do not use public Wi-Fi. If you must use public
Wi-Fi, ensure you use a VPN to prevent eavesdroppers from
stealing your data.
Use strong passwords
Do not use the same password for everything. Password reuse is
the first thing that an attacker will look out for. Using the same
password for all your social media access as well as banking and
network login means if the attacker finds this out, they have the
keys to the kingdom.
Free password managers like Lastpass can greatly simplify your
life by generating a different complex password for each system
you use whilst storing them all securely and automating your
login.
2 Factor
Authentication or Multi
Factor Authentication
Multi factor authentication, using text messages, biometrics or pin
codes that are generated for you, will protect you if your
password is stolen. There are lots of free ones - Google
Authenticator for example - that can be used.
