When you work from the office, with all their safety countermeasures and firewalls to prevent corporate espionage, there is a sense of safety. But what about working from home? Let us help you fix possible issues in your privacy online while working.
Introduction:
Many more people from a myriad of different businesses are working from home. And while this might be a nice opportunity to dress more casually, and play your favorite internet game like the mr bet bonus during your lunch hour without consequence, it is also the perfect opportunity for hackers and other corporate thieves to infiltrate your companies computer systems through you.
Unless you brought home a heavily secured company computer, you are probably logging on from your own laptop. Sure, you might have the latest and greatest internet security. You might have firewall defense, malware intrusion alerts, and virus scanners. But one wrong email opened in error makes your whole system open to attack. So, how do you prevent it?
Privacy Online in the Age of the Hacker
Whether it be a foreign government or a bored kid in their mom’s basement, if someone wants into your computer badly enough, there are many ways to do it, and many aren’t that difficult. For corporate interests, black hat hackers are hired all the time to pry into the deepest secrets of a company’s competition. It is fantastically illegal, but it happens all the time.
This is why when working from home, online privacy rules apply more than ever. Your bank account can be hacked, but it is federally insured, and you will get the money back.
Your credit card numbers stolen, but they can be canceled, and the charges rejected. But allowing a nameless, faceless threat to infiltrate your business is tantamount to disaster. You can be fired, or worse.
Combatting the Invisible Foe
Online privacy risks are everywhere, but there are some ways to keep the devil at bay:
- Pay attention to the online privacy regulations your company has in place and implement them into your life. It may be an inconvenience, but it will save you so much trouble.
- Protect the privacy of online data by installing an end-to-end encryption program, or if that is too complicated, get a quality VPN (virtual private network). VPNs bounce your IP address all over the world. It increases the difficulty for hackers to penetrate your system.
- Have a separate network for home computer items, and work computer needs. A secondary router with heavy protective firewalls will do nicely. Adding additional security to your home computer is also a worthwhile investment.
Getting a Good Handle on where you are Most Vulnerable
Just knowing that you are under cyber-attack isn’t enough. If you don’t plug that leak, it can be like a sniper firing at you; you know it is happening, but don’t know where the bullet originated. Having a plan to find the cyber intruder to protect your privacy online and put a stop to their invasion is the only defense against future attacks.
The best way for business is to hire a cybersecurity guru that has a history in the hacking world with gray hat penetration experience. They will know both hacker worlds but be morally grounded enough to keep your best interest in the forefront of their mind. With the skills of a black hat and the mind of a white hat, they can get the job done.
Otherwise, attaching your company to a federal agency’s cyber division is a possible option. They take cyber penetration very seriously and will do everything in their power to find the perpetrator and bring them to justice. The only drawback is, once they are into your system, if you have any dirty laundry, they will find it, due to the comprehensive nature of their defensive strategy.
The last option, and the better, more economical choice for the everyday computer enthusiast who wants to protect their privacy online, is software. They can’t find your hacker, but they can improve your shielding, so they won’t be nearly as much of a threat. Some top-notch security software is:
1. Bitdefender Total Security
With a catalog of built-in features, the best cybersecurity for online banking and web applications, and even ransomware defense, this is by far the highest grade of civilian-level security you can get, and it comes with a 30-day trial.
2. Kaspersky Total Security
Capable of protecting up to ten devices simultaneously, built-in protection for kids, and intelligent adaptive protection that modifies itself based on the attack, its virus engine is high grade, and its online privacy protection is very responsive.
3. Norton 360
Here is a tried and true name in computer protection. The Norton suite of products has always been at the forefront of computer security and this is its latest offering. It has an integrated VPN, dark web monitoring protocols, and plenty of parental controls to protect your children’s privacy online.
4. Trend Micro Maximum Security
Trend Micro has raised the bar for ransomware security programs. Their multi-layered system protects your privacy, your passwords, and has a top-notch URL filter. It is very user friendly with a streamlined interface and comes with a comprehensive suite of features.
5. Avast Ultimate
This is a great way to protect you from prying eyes if you use WIFI. Privacy online can be easily compromised using barely protected free WIFI, so Avast has a WIFI inspector to check the security of your WIFI source. It has ransomware shielding and a high-quality VPN.
Conclusion:
Vigilance is key to protecting the information from prying eyes. While punching in a 15-digit, an alpha-numeric password may be irritating at times, it is a small price when saving yourself, and your business, from malicious parties. Anyone who has ever had their identity stolen because of lazy security in their online world can attest to that.
Do you use any special to ensure your internet safety? Let us know in the comments below.
