It’s no secret that more people are working from home these days. With the rise of remote working, it’s now possible to work with a laptop on your kitchen table, while still having access to all the resources you need as an employee.
The number of people working from home has increased by 140% since 2005, and it’s now estimated that around 16% of global companies are now fully remote. But with this increase in remote working comes an increased risk for phishing attacks.
Why are phishing attacks on the rise?
Phishing attacks are on the rise for a few reasons. First, there’s the fact that people are more likely to click on a link or open an attachment if they think it came from someone they know. With more people working from home, it’s easier for scammers to fake an email address or create a website that looks like a legitimate company’s site.
11 ways to protect yourself from an ‘at home’ phishing attack
Before you start working from home, it’s important to be aware of the risks and take some precautions to protect yourself. Here are 11 ways to protect yourself from phishing attacks:
1. Don’t open any attachments or click on any links in emails unless you’re absolutely sure they’re safe.
2. Be suspicious of unsolicited emails, even if they appear to be from people you know.
3. Don’t enter your login information into any website that doesn’t have a secure connection (look for the https:// in the web address).
4. Be careful about what information you share online. Don’t post your email address, phone number, or Social Security number online unless you know the site is reputable.
5. Use strong passwords and never use the same password for more than one account.
6. Install a good antivirus program on your computer and keep it up to date.
7. Be careful about what you download. Only download files from websites you trust, and make sure you have an antivirus program installed on your computer before you open them.
8. Keep your operating system and software up to date. Install any security updates as soon as they’re available.
9. Don’t leave your computer unattended when you’re logged in to your accounts.
10. Be careful about where you connect to the internet. Public Wi-Fi networks are often not secure, so don’t enter any sensitive information (like your login credentials) into websites when you’re using one.
11. If you think you’ve been the victim of a phishing attack, report it to your IT department immediately.
Whether you work remotely, hybrid or in the office, it is easy to become a victim of a cyber attack. With Xenace’s phishing awareness training, you can reduce this risk, giving your workforce the skills they need to avoid phishing attacks.