Remote work is seen by many as one of the best things that could have happened to office environments and corporate landscapes, citing reduced costs, the ability to work from a more relaxing and familiar environment, better work-life balance, and the lack of commuting as the most obvious benefits. And while they’re all true, there’s an aspect that many don’t take into account when it comes to this arrangement: the cybersecurity risks. Many aspects of online and digital safety are simply not followed as stringently at home as they are in an office space.
The majority of the employees are not cybersecurity experts themselves, so self-policing is impossible while the companies find it difficult to enforce rules in places that aren’t under their direct jurisdiction. Finding the best cybersecurity software that all members of your team can share is only the first step to solving the problem. Making sure that everyone knows what the most common threats are and what are the things they need to do to protect their data and systems is the bedrock on which you must build your strategy.
Unsecured home Wi-Fi
The security standards of home Wi-Fi networks are often unreasonably lax, not a good thing considering that many people work with sensitive information when they’re home as well (such as by entering their credit card details on e-commerce platforms when shopping online).
Naturally, these networks will lack the enterprise-level security that is common in offices, meaning that they are fundamentally more vulnerable to hacker attacks. Add to that the fact that many of them have outdated router firmware and weak passwords, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster in many cases, with a breach that’s just waiting to happen.
Hackers have the ability to hijack browser sessions and even access connected devices this way. All traffic is exposed, jeopardizing the safety of passwords and banking credentials as well as making computers more vulnerable to malware. If they can intercept communications between your devices and websites, hackers can steal data directly or inject malicious code.
Enabling encryption in your router settings is the first step. Make sure to set up at least the WPA2-AES, or, ideally, the WPA3. Change the default SSID and create a strong password that is entirely different from any other password you may be using. Update firmware and install software patches regularly, and remember to turn off the WPS since it is famously vulnerable to brute-force intrusions.
Phishing
Phishing and social engineering are incredibly common in remote work simply because they are so effective. The rise of AI has provided cybercriminals with an additional tool they can use in order to extract information since it makes their messages look legitimate. Using tools such as TSplus Advanced Security can help tremendously when it comes to IT infrastructures, but that’s not exactly helpful if the employees are tricked into handing over sensitive information themselves. Passwords, credit card details, and social security numbers are the kind of credentials hackers are most likely to demand, generally by masquerading as a trusted entity.
The deception often works because the attackers add a layer of urgency to their messages, leading the victims to believe that they need to act as quickly as possible to avoid negative outcomes for both themselves and others. Many people panic and do what they’re told without checking to see if the situation really is that dire, as the sense of a crisis overwhelms them. Remote workers are also more vulnerable because of their isolation, since there are no coworkers next to them that they can ask at the moment or managers to talk to.
Impersonating executives, fake messages claiming to be IT and demanding password resets in order to steal login credentials, vishing and smishing, and fake documents that are time-sensitive and lead to malicious sites are among the most popular tactics. Many attacks take place on collaboration tools and can appear legitimate. When you’re home, confirming unusual requests takes more time, increasing the possibility of the attack being successful. Many workers may feel pressured to respond right away to prove their productivity.
To mitigate phishing, make sure that you have strict communication protocols so that you can verify if an email containing a more unusual request is legitimate or not. MFA can protect against the stealing of credentials, and all employees need to know what these attacks are most likely to look like so that they can pinpoint them right away. All suspicious messages must be shared with the IT teams instead of deleted.
Data exposure
Sensitive data is the backbone of many businesses nowadays. The information entrusted to a company is vital, and the way in which you protect it can make or break your corporate reputation. When a breach happens, that information is exposed, leading to financial crimes and identity theft. Many companies never recover fully from an event such as this. Insecure file sharing, lost or stolen devices, and the use of shadow IT can all expose sensitive information to unauthorized parties.
Remote work is several times more likely to lead to the exposure of data. In some cases, there’s an insider threat as well, with many of those who want to resign or are laid off stealing the information themselves. If hackers are to blame, ransomware can be used, especially if a lot of data has been compromised. The attackers will encrypt the information they’ve gained access to and demand payment in exchange for leaving the victim alone and letting go of the data.
The prevention strategies include stringent rules when it comes to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies. Monitor any unusual file transfers or large data movements and stop the ones that didn’t receive prior verification. All employees who are no longer part of the company should have their access to the systems revoked. Enforce endpoint protection, disk encryption, the use of VPNs, and multi-factor authentication for everyone, and you’ve already decreased the likelihood of an attack taking place by a sizable margin.
To sum up, while the benefits of remote work are undeniable, the potential downsides can be a big problem as well. Businesses need to be protected on all fronts, regardless of where the employees are.
(Photo by Chantha Pheuypraseuth on Unsplash)
