Due to the various effects of the pandemic, many people have been forced to work remotely. Some have spent the past year in isolation and have decided to venture into new working conditions by going online and working remotely. But working in such a manner is not without its risks. Cybercrimes are on the rise. Therefore, as a remote worker, you must know how to stay safe cyber working remotely. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Keep business and personal separate.
Computers can store a lot of information. And while there is an urge to use your laptop or desktop for your job, you should avoid doing such. While you do not wish to have an attack on your computer, sometimes it just happens. If you use your computer for personal and business use, you open a door for hackers and cybercriminals to steal your personal information or hold your data for ransom.
Suppose you do not have the means to have dual computers, put your personal information and files on an external hard drive. Only access personal information from your device when you are not online. This lowers the risk of exposing your files to the public. When working remotely, never use your computer for social media purposes. It is predicted that nearly 80% of all viruses are downloaded from social media on laptops and desktops. There are nearly no viruses downloaded from mobile devices, especially iPhones. Keep social media away from your remote working.
Security on emails
Emails may have the option to have images and content downloaded automatically. This is a massive risk for the remote worker. As most ransomware is delivered by email, having the proper security measures to avoid ransomware is crucial. First, deactivate any image downloading with your emails. While this makes it to where you have to right-click and download an image if you feel it is trustworthy, it eliminates the possibility of just clicking on a subject line and having ransomware download through an image. Secondly, enable your spam blocker. Spam blockers look for emails sent from low-price web hosting sites that do not offer SLL, HTTP, or data encryption. These files are red-flagged and should be deleted. Finally, have your email set up with virus scanning. Depending upon the anti-virus software that you have, it could be included. If not, you may be able to avoid hazardous emails by setting up a dedicated email address on your domain and web hosting services site.
Use safe transaction methods.
Working remotely requires that you have to be paid in some form or fashion. It is recommended that you use a verified means of payment. Avoid anyone who wishes to pay you with a MoneyGram or Western Union. It would be best to run from these jobs as they are primarily scams looking to gain your personal information. More secure is online payment from PayPal. PayPal allows you to send an invoice without disclosing your personal information.
Do not make direct deposits with an unknown source. While this may be convenient for you, it is also easy for the scammer to take advantage of. Why? Because you have already provided the routing number, the account number, and your name. What can be deposited can also be withdrawn. Direct deposits should only be made with well-established companies with physical brick-and-mortar locations that can be verified. If you have not worked for the company before, or if it is not a very well-known company, choose a different form of payment.
Watch the sites you visit.
Adult sites are not the only places where viruses can be found. When someone tells you to watch the sites you visit, they mean to watch all sites. Domain and web hosting services give certificates to good sites with valuable content. If the content cannot be verified, an SSL cannot be secured. Additionally, look for sites that have HTTPs on the address. These sites are registered and trackable. Avoid sites that have a www or a .com as these can be created by anyone and posted using a personal server rather than having a domain name registration service create the proper and safer address.
When working remotely, avoid using sites that have various re-routing. Sites should be constructed well enough that you can get your information quickly. This is true for freelance sites as well as for business sites. Should you find that you constantly have to go to another site, be cautious. It could be that the site is trying to hack your IP address or personal information.
Be safe working remotely.
Perhaps the best advice for working remotely is to trust your instincts. If something does not sound good, it probably is not. If you have reservations about working for a particular client, do research and verify. Remember, even though you are working for yourself does not mean that you are not being worked against. Follow the tips above, use common sense, and stay alert to have a safe and productive working environment.