The ever-increasing shift to working remotely has amplified the...um, let’s call them “challenges”... of dealing with online threats. To get work done, employees are relying on collaboration tools, apps, and websites that haven’t necessarily been approved by IT. Research shows that people are also spending more time online with their devices and using social media to entertain themselves, which increases a) exposure to an exorbitant number of Golden Girls memes and b) the risk of potential cybersecurity threats.
More than ever, employees need information security awareness training. Here are 3 simple steps to follow to keep you and your employees from being the next victim of a malicious app, scammer, or hacker.
It’s easy to get casual about security--and pants--when you’re working from home. Staff and infrastructure that once protected workers from viruses, malware, and phishing may not exist as it once did. Makers of malicious apps are preying (and no, that’s not hyperbole) on your phone features or tablet vulnerabilities. That seemingly harmless funny face filter app you just downloaded from a third-party app store may just be intercepting your texts and stealing your financial data.
If you think those ubiquitous “Free WiFi” door stickers are a safe place to get work done, you might also be the kind of trusting soul who accepts “Free Candy” from rusty vans with no license plates. Security experts have long advised people to avoid using public WiFi networks because of the risk of being hacked. Hackers can use an unsecured WiFi connection to plant infected software on your computer. Help prevent employees from falling victim to an attack--or a $17 triple-drip, avocado toast-infused latte--by making the risks of public WiFi easy to understand.
Avoid the urge to overshare online. Hackers who gain access to personal or professional information through your blog may be able to leverage that data to learn about where you live or work (or way, way worse) and use it against you. Employees need to be made aware of the many risks and legal ramifications of posting confidential business information online. So just like the dirty details about your weird new rash, keep your information to yourself.
Looking for more innovative ways to help keep employees engaged and compliant? Contact us to use our library of videos to build awareness, retention and understanding for your organizations' most important E&C policies.