Security Hygiene for Work From Home users

COVID-19 - continues to affect every corner of the globe. I hope everyone on this earth is staying safe and keeping their health and well-being as the first thing. As you know this *Work From Home* period might take longer than expected. Below are some pointers for you to make sure you are taking care of security hygiene from your home network. I hope that some of the information you find here will prove useful or at least interesting to you.

1. Social Engineering: Hackers will be taking advantage of this time to get juicy information from end-users.

Educate yourself about Social Engineering and avoid replying to any unknown emails and calls.

2. Phishing attempts: For any emails/WhatsApp avoid opening and forwarding messages whose authenticity can be questioned. Please visit this link to educate yourself on how to protect yourself against WhatsApp hack: https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/23/21068815/whatsapp-two-factor-authentication-how-to-security-privacy-hacking-pin-backup

Think before you click/forward

3. Endpoint Protection: Make sure your laptop and mobile phones are having the latest antivirus and definitions are updated. 

Install and update your Antivirus

4. Data Backup: Make sure you are taking backup of your data on a daily basis (at least). 

Backup should be part of daily routines

5. Avoid Public Wifi: Public Wifi should be avoided or limit the usage to any urgent task only. Big no to Financial transactions on Public Wifis. 

Be limited to the usage of browsing/chatting on public wifis

6. Secure Connections (VPN): Make sure your company employees/Vendors are connecting via VPN to your company network.

Connect via VPN to your office network

7. Password Security: If you cannot provide your employees with 2FA option make sure they are using complex passwords. Change the passwords on a monthly basis.

Enable 2FA Authentication

8. Malware: Malware would be on high rise keeping in view the current uncertainty of information spreading across. Educate yourself on how to protect against malware.

Beware of Ransomeware and Malwares, avoid opening and installing Apps from unknown link/emails, Keep your machines updated.

9. Lock Screen: Lock screen policy should be followed in-home and on mobile phones both. 

Keep your machines locked

10. Power/Intenet Outage: Make sure you have a backup power and internet lines.

Have Backup Power/Internet

Let me know if I have missed anything out and how are you managing your security hygiene during this time.

Stay Home, Stay Safe

Contact us if you suspect that your company or infrastructure might be compromised or that you might have fallen victim to a Cyber compromise. You can send me DM and we will help you with your requirements. We will be fast with responses and help you with your security needs.

K.Abid - Head of Compliance & Security