11 Simple Cybersecurity Tips For Your Home Office

Protect your data — both personal and business.

If you think your home is any safer than a business when it comes to being the target of cybercrime, you’d be wrong. The Guardian reported this past May a rise in phishing and malware attacks on people working from home. The FBI has found a 300% increase in cyberattacks as many people shift from an office environment to home.

With so many people working from home — and likely working from home for some time to come — it is essential to become more aware of the security risks connected with working remotely.

Cybercriminals know that a home office is less likely to have robust security measures in place. They’re also aware than many people still aren’t fully settled into the work-from-home flow and that some procedures may have gone lax as everyone waits for life to return to “normal.”

Even freelancers with years of experience working from home are finding themselves more frequently under attack. While many are already aware of security issues, many others are not prepared for the increased number of probings and attacks.

Fortunately, there are a lot of things one can do to keep a home office more secure.

1. Be wary of phishing scams

Resist the temptation to click on links in email or social media sites. You can preview an unrecognized or suspicious link by hovering your mouse over them. If you spot any spelling mistakes or other irregularities, don’t click that link. Delete the message immediately. You should be wary of unsolicited text messages as well.

If the message in question claims to come from a trusted source like your bank or a utility company, consider verifying the message by phone or in person.

2. Follow remote work policies if available

If you’re working from home for an employer, see if that employer has a published work-from-home or remote work policy. This will tell you what security steps you’re expected to take to protect your network and business data. Your employer has already done most of the work for you when it comes to establishing safe practices.

If your workplace does not have a policy in place, encourage them to adopt one.

3. Remove unnecessary or risky apps

Most apps these days take advantage of your network connection to gather information. In many cases, the data collected is valid in the sense of improving performance and service. In some cases, apps gather data to sell, and there is no telling what a third party will do with that information.

The fewer apps you have active on your network, the better. Turn off or delete any applications or services that are not necessary for you to perform your work. This especially includes web-based games.

Always think twice before downloading a new app.

4. Take advantage of cybersecurity technology

The antivirus and anti-malware software is just sitting there, waiting to be used. Well, it’s a Google search away, at least. Some may be installed on your computer or mobile device already — either by the manufacturer or your company’s IT department.

Also, look into firewall options for your network so that only approved users and traffic can get through. An effective firewall, either on your device or as part of your home network, will keep malware, viruses, and unauthorized users from gaining entry into your system.

5. Keep on top of security updates and software patches

Makers of your favorite software and systems are always looking to improve their products and their security. It’s in their best interest to keep you as a customer.

With that in mind, pay attention to any announcements regarding security updates or software patches that apply to your setup. They don’t take much time to install. You’ll lose more time in trying to recover from a cyberattack that got through because updates and patches were missed.

6. Manage a secure network

Make sure to reset all passwords associated with your home office setup, and manage the permissions for any person who has access to your network. If your home uses smart devices or IoT appliances, make sure to change all default passwords.

If you have many different people using your network, you may want to set them up on a separate or guest network instead — independent from what you use for work.

7. Conduct regularly scheduled backups

Backup often. This way, if something were to happen to your data — either through hardware issues or cyberattack — you can recover lost data quickly and easily, and keep downtime to a minimum.

Backups can be on physical media or the cloud. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, so it’s best to choose backing up to each if possible.

8. When out, reconsider connecting to public Wi-Fi

Remember, anyone can log into a public Wi-Fi — from anywhere the signal will reach. You won’t necessarily see the hacker sniffing about your computer, so it’s best to be prudent and avoid public Wi-Fi altogether.

Instead, look into VPN options when out on the road, use secure passwords, and make sure your mobile devices are entirely turned off when not in use.

9. Resist the urge to plug in unknown USB drives

Ever come across a lost flash drive in the middle of a mall? Tempting to plug it in to see what’s on it, isn’t it?

Ethics aside, it’s a significant security risk. USB devices can hide all sorts of nasty malware, which will automatically install upon insertion.

If a USB device isn’t yours or not from a trusted source, don’t plug it in.

10. Look at your home office’s physical security

Not all security risks are cyber risks. Sometimes the threat comes from an unlocked door, a laptop sitting out in the open unattended, passwords written on pieces of paper, or printouts of sensitive data.

Take steps to physically secure your devices and destroy or shred paper records that should not fall into unauthorized hands. Keep a locked desk or file cabinet for such things, if possible. At the very least, look into a lockable box.

11. Practice discretion even during downtime

Cybercriminals have several ways to learn the kind of information they need to break into someone’s network. Are your passwords based on the names of your pets? Do you talk about your pets on social media sites? A determined cybercriminal will use this information against you.

Revealing how much tech you have at home to accommodate your work not only gives cybercriminals an idea as to what devices might be hacked, it also gives burglars an idea as to how much expensive equipment might be lying around to steal.

Be wary of what you share — even during your downtime.

Protect your home office as you would your home itself

You wouldn’t go on vacation and leave your doors unlocked, would you? You don’t let strangers into your home unless you’re sure of who they are and why they’re there, right?

Why would you behave any differently with your home office tech?

Most of the tips above are immediately actionable and don’t cost a thing to enact. Others require only minimal effort and expense. But no matter how much effort or expense you go through to keep your home office network safe, it will still be cheaper than the cost of experiencing a cyberattack.

Working from home does not mean having to be vulnerable.

There’s no reason to let the cyber crooks win.

Thank you for reading. I’d love to share more with you via my Bi-Weekly Word Roundup newsletter sent to subscribers every other Sunday. It will feature news, productivity tips, life hacks, and links to top stories making the rounds on the Internet. You can unsubscribe at any time.