Easy Ways to Protect Your Work Computer when Working Remotely
Read this article to understand how to protect your computer while working from home. Know the security preventions you must take to protect your business data from hackers and network attacks.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still very much in effect, many businesses have opted to let employees work remotely. While working from home can be a comfortable change of pace for people who have been worn down by the daily grind, there are a number of challenges newly-remote workers face. In addition to creating your own structure and staying in constant communication with your bosses and coworkers, you'll need to make cybersecurity one of your foremost priorities. If your work computer is infected by a virus, stricken with malware or hit with a hacker attack, the consequences can be far-reaching for both you and your employer. To nip potential security breaches in the bud, remote workers should put the following pointers to good use. 
Install Dedicated Antivirus Software
In this day and age, no computer should be without dedicated antivirus software. With hacking, data theft and virus propagation at all-time highs, it behoves responsible members of the workforce to protect their devices from a growing array of cyber threats. With this in mind, make a point of installing a dependable antivirus security program on your work computer. The software you select should provide users with consistent updates, around-the-clock threat scans and an easy-to-navigate interface. Additionally, for maximum effectiveness, install updates as they become available instead of tossing them on the back burner. Since these updates are designed to combat new and emerging threats, allowing them to pile up only serves to make your work computer – and any data contained thereon – more vulnerable.Enable Password Protection
If a hacker finds their way into your work computer or the device is stolen, the consequences can be far-reaching. Since the absolute last thing most businesses want is to have their data exposed to disreputable third parties, you'd be wise to enable password protection for your computer, as well as any other work devices in your possession. While entering a password every time you wish to use one of these devices can be a bit cumbersome, this minor annoyance is well worth the additional protection you'll enjoy.
When setting out to create the ideal password, steer clear of common expressions and number combinations. Instead, opt for utter nonsense, as this will make the password impossible to guess. Furthermore, be very selective about the people with whom you share this password. For example, unless the computer is being serviced, there should be absolutely no reason to share this password with anyone other than professional colleagues. To keep cybercriminals on their toes, take care to change this password on a semi-regular basis. Secure Your Home Network
To help prevent third parties from gaining access to your work computer through your home network, do everything in your power to secure said network. For starters, enable password protection, as a network that isn't protected by a password is easy picking for even the laziest cybercriminal. Next, change your router's default login information. Most routers come with preloaded usernames and passwords, and if an unwelcome visitor is able to ascertain your router's manufacturer and model, obtaining the default logins and accessing the administration menu shouldn't prove terribly difficult. You can prevent third parties from learning the aforementioned router info by changing your router's default SSID, which more than likely reveals the maker and/or model. Avoid Public Wi-Fi
With COVID-19 infection numbers getting worse by the day, going out in public for anything other than essential tasks is extremely ill-advised. However, if you live in the vicinity of a public Wi-Fi hotspot, you may be tempted to take advantage of the free internet access from the comfort of your home. While public Wi-Fi can be very helpful in a pinch, connecting to it with a work device is never a good idea. Public Wi-Fi spots are veritable playgrounds for hackers, as they lack the same level of protection as most private networks. If you have absolutely no choice but to use public Wi-Fi, protect yourself with a reliable virtual private network (VPN).
The novel coronavirus has caused many enterprises to re-examine their daily operations. As a growing number of businesses are discovering, remote work is a perfectly viable alternative to reporting to an office. However, with enhanced trust comes enhanced responsibility. In addition to creating your own structure, working from home entails taking charge of your cybersecurity efforts and keeping your employer's data out of the wrong hands.
