So many businesses are allowing, and even encouraging. their employers to work remotely due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. There are many benefits to this practice both during this time and always: it removes the need for wasteful commuting time, it allows parents to be more available for their children, and many people report higher efficiency.

There are a few risks involved, though, that need to be addressed.

Update Your Antivirus

The most important thing you can do for your company and for yourself is to make sure is your AV and your endpoint are up-to-date, and that you have someone watching your device for 24\7 updates. Otherwise, your work machine can be compromised, accessing websites that are not business-related or full of malware.

Set Privacy

If you share a device with anyone else—spouse or child—you will need to protect your company’s data and privacy. Of course you trust your family, but you have no control over the hackers that can infiltrate your device while another user is online. Have everyone use different devices if you can, or at the very least, give everyone a different username.

Secure Your Wireless Network

Hackers can get into devices, servers, VPNs, and networks. Do your best to make sure all of these are secure, especially your network. Protect it with a strong password and a firewall. Update your network’s firmware whenever there is a security patch.

Watch Out for Phishing

Get properly trained in security for your device. Hackers thrive on attacking people who are unaware of the risks and threats. They are getting better at hacking, so everyone else needs to get better at protecting their devices.

One of the easiest ways a hacker can get information is when a user just gives it away. Phishing often comes in the form of emails. Ask your family members to be careful when opening emails from “companies” and “friends.” Tell them to hover over the “sent by” email address and see if it indeed comes from your bank, Amazon, Paypal, or wherever you get an email from. Better yet, don’t open the email. Just log into the official website itself and see if you have a message there.

Delete All Information Before Selling or Donating a Device

Emptying the data from your device will save you from being hacked where you have your information saved. This one is not easy to do completely, so it’s a good idea to find an IT expert who can help you delete everything properly.

If you need help, get in touch with Sytex.ca, and let us help you protect yourself.