Common Malware That Work From Home Employees Need to be Aware of
If you are switching over to a remote working environment or have already transitioned to it, there are some important security tips to know.
25/03/2021
Work-from-home culture is on the rise and the trends show that people actually love it. The quaint of home, kids and pets around and no road traffic issues to worry about - it’s Zen.
There are some other kind of issues, though. If you are considering switching over to a remote working environment or if you’ve already transitioned to it, there are some important security tips to know. These security tips must then be engraved in the minds of every remote worker because it is what will keep your systems safe and operational.
Remember, a breach could be highly likely to occur in a remote working environment. There may be some security pressure points that could be breached easily. Here are five common malware that remote employees need to be aware of.
Remote desktop ransomware
The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is one of the most common settings for a workforce of this kind. It runs best because if you have a hybrid team with some working at the office, it links together everything needed to work jointly together. At the same time, the RDP system has some inefficiencies that might cause a ransomware attack to be widespread.
That is why you should determine whether it would be wise to send some sensitive information through an SFTP server or on the RDP system. GoAnywhere.com has cloud-based SFTP servers that are very secure for sending data to other employees securely.
Virus from a personal device
Many remote workers use their personal devices to log into work and do the assignments they are assigned. Some use their personal devices as their secondary work machine because of portability and working wherever they are. This creates an area for concern because that is where a breach could occur.
With a work-issued computer, you can dictate what sites are appropriate and block out ones posing a risk. On the other hand, you can’t control what happens on a personal device. The worker might download a file that is laced with a virus which could help the perpetrators gain access to your device or log the keys you’re typing.
A data breach on a collaboration project
Multiple individuals using different devices to connect on one project for a collaboration project could also lead to some security deficits. How? One device could lead the perpetrators to gain access to the entire project. Afterward, all progress made on the project could have all been for nothing, which is why it is important to place some safeguards for such a scenario.
For example, fully scanning your device and periodically doing it every 1 or 2 weeks could help mitigate this risk. Remember, when one device has been infiltrated, it can spread to other work or personal machines.
Phishing email attacks
Phishing email attacks are the worst because they are sent under the disguise that they are legitimate mail. At first glance, you might just see the phishing email attacks as an email from a co-worker or even an employee. Alternatively, they might just try to entice you with an offer that you’ll hardly ever resist so that you’ll click on the link.
After clicking the link, malicious software will have been embedded in your computer and could have catastrophic results for remote workers. Therefore, train your employees to learn how to identify a phishing email attack before it comes to life.
Intercepting data transmitted
When someone has gained access to the network admin panel and plays the role of an administrator, they can see almost anything. Therefore, they can intercept some trade secrets and important and sensitive information, which could hurt the company financially.
To try and mitigate these risks, put in place some strict protocols like implementing strong firewalls to prevent any data interception from happening within your network.