The Ultimate Guide to Cybersecurity for Remote Workers: Best Practices for Staying Safe Online

In today’s digital age, working remotely is more than a trend—it’s the new normal for many professionals. But whether you’re working remotely for a company or yourself, cybersecurity challenges can quickly become personal. Hackers know that many remote setups lack the robust security of traditional office environments, making them an easier target than an office network. This guide comes from a cybersecurity consultant who has helped some of the biggest names in multiple industries and contains straightforward, practical steps to take to protect both your personal and professional information from online risks, without the need for technical expertise. Whether you’re setting up in a coffee shop, a co-working space, or your own home, these strategies will help you stay secure and productive, wherever you choose to work.

What is at stake?

Understanding what needs to be protected is essential for determining how to protect it. Here’s an idea of what is at stake for you:

Personal and Company Data
Sensitive data, such as personal information, client data, and internal business documents, can be highly valuable to cybercriminals. If accessed or stolen, this information can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and even loss of client trust or legal repercussions for the company or individual.

Intellectual Property
Remote work often involves accessing proprietary business information, including trade secrets, product designs, or research data. Unauthorized access to these assets can result in competitive disadvantages or significant financial loss.

Account Credentials
Your login information for email, collaboration platforms, and other systems can be a goldmine for attackers. Compromised credentials can give hackers direct access to company systems, potentially allowing them to impersonate you, move laterally within the network, or steal additional information.

Devices and Files
Laptops, phones, and tablets used for work are often loaded with work-related files and applications. If these devices are lost, stolen, or accessed by someone else, unprotected files or accounts can easily fall into the wrong hands.

Network Security
When working remotely, you’re often on a home Wi-Fi network, a public hotspot, or another connection that may lack strong security protections. Unsecured networks are an easy entry point for attackers, who can intercept data or plant malware if a network isn’t properly secured.

Business Communications
Collaboration platforms, emails, and instant messages often contain confidential details about clients, projects, or strategies. If these are intercepted or compromised, the information could be exploited for social engineering attacks, blackmail, or data leaks.

Safeguarding Your Remote Workspace

Most remote workspaces have three main components:

1. The Device(s)
2. The Network
3. The Physical Environment

We shall go through methods of protecting all three.

Devices

This is where you do most of your work. They are your laptops, mobile phones, tablets, etc.

Here are the essential steps you should be taking to protect them:

• Ensure that the Operating System and Software are Updated: Regularly update the operating system, applications, and antivirus software on your devices. These updates often contain security patches that take care of a lot of vulnerabilities for you. Hackers really like finding targets running old versions of software and operating systems because they contain well-known, publicly disclosed vulnerabilities making them easy to exploit.
• Change ALL Default Usernames and Passwords: I don’t think you need an explanation as to why you should be doing this.
• Use Strong, Unique Passwords: For every account and device, create strong passwords that are difficult to guess. Avoid using the same password across multiple accounts. Consider using a trusted password manager. These tools not only generate very hard-to-guess passwords for you, so you don’t have to come up with different ones every time, but also securely store them for you to refer to when you need to use them. They make staying secure a whole lot easier. ProtonPass, for example, is super easy and free to use(and no, they do not sponsor us :(, would be nice if they did though).
• Install Antivirus Software: A reliable antivirus program can help protect your devices from malware and other threats. Regularly scan your devices for potential security issues.
• Activate Biometric Authentication: Something you are, cannot be stolen. Utilize fingerprint or facial recognition features if your devices support them. This adds an extra layer of security beyond traditional passwords.
• Backup Your Data: Regularly back up important files to a secure cloud service or an external hard drive. This ensures that you can recover your information in case of data loss or ransomware attacks.
• Be Cautious with Downloads and Links: Only download software from trusted sources and be wary of clicking links in emails or messages from unknown senders. Phishing attempts can often look legitimate, so take extra care.

Networks

Your internet is just as important as your device. In a remote working environment, your device is useless without your internet. As a general rule of thumb, we suggest avoiding the use of free public wifi networks such as those found in coffee shops. Instead, use your own hotspot. This is because public networks are popular places for hackers to connect to and monitor traffic. This can be done with ease and can reveal lots of information about the kind of work that is being done on the network and is one of the most common ways for attackers to obtain sensitive data and also look for vulnerable targets for further exploitation.

Secure Your Home Wi-Fi Network: Change the default username and password for your router. Ensure that your Wi-Fi network is encrypted using WPA3 or WPA2.

Enable Network Firewalls: Most routers come with a built-in firewall feature. Ensure this is activated to help block unauthorized access to your network.

Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN): A VPN encrypts your internet connection, making it harder for hackers to intercept your data. This is especially important when you must connect to public Wi-Fi or unsecured networks.

Disable File Sharing: When working remotely, turn off file-sharing settings on your devices unless absolutely necessary. This can help prevent unauthorized access to your files over the network.

Monitor Connected Devices: Regularly check which devices are connected to your network. If you notice any unfamiliar devices, disconnect them and change your Wi-Fi password immediately.

Update Router Firmware: Just like with your devices, keeping your router’s firmware updated is essential for security. Manufacturers often release updates that fix vulnerabilities, so make sure your router is running the latest software.

Physical

In traditional office settings, there are security measures like access gates and guards to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the premises. Coffee shops are a little less stringent about who has access. It is therefore important to ensure that your devices are not just secure on the inside but also physically protected.

Here are some practical steps to help you protect your devices and data:

1. Stay Aware of Your Surroundings: When working in public spaces, be mindful of who might be around you. Avoid discussing sensitive information aloud, and be aware of “shoulder surfers” who might try to see your screen.
2. Use a Privacy Screen: Attach a privacy filter to your laptop screen to prevent others from viewing your work from side angles. This simple tool can help protect sensitive information from prying eyes.
3. Secure Your Devices When Not in Use: If you need to step away, even briefly, always lock your screen or take your device with you. Consider using a laptop lock if you’re in a semi-public workspace to physically secure your device to a table.
4. Avoid Leaving Sensitive Documents Out: If you have to work with printed documents, keep them organized and out of view when not in use. Avoid printing or bringing hard copies of sensitive materials into public places whenever possible.
5. Be Cautious with USB Drives: If you’re using USB drives or external storage devices, make sure they’re encrypted. Be mindful of where you leave them, as they’re easily lost or stolen and can contain sensitive data.

Monitoring Your Setup

Monitoring your setup for any lapses is just as important as putting security measures in place. It enables you to act swiftly and minimize damage in case any of your strategies fail.

Here’s a checklist of what you should be doing on a regular basis:

• Monitor the performance of your device. If the device suddenly starts performing poorly, chances are you have been hacked. Malware usually takes up a lot of a device’s processing power, causing it to slow down considerably when it is active.
• Keep an eye out for sudden slowdowns in the internet speed of your device, despite the internet working fine on other devices. Malware communicates with attackers over the internet. When transfers of data to the attacker are initiated, they hog a lot of bandwidth, causing other functions to slow down.
• Ensure you periodically check who is connected to your home or personal network. Ensure any unauthorised devices don’t show up on there.
• Be alert if you receive sudden bursts of unsolicited spam emails or phone calls. If you start receiving piles of them, your email or phone number was likely exposed in a recent data leak. Spammers usually rely on publicly leaked databases to find the contact info of potential victims.