Even before the pandemic, the world of work was becoming increasingly mobile, and more than a year of widespread work-from-home has only cemented this new normal. We respond to emails, attend virtual meetings, and edit docs from our smartphones pretty much anywhere—the park, your ride share, a café. It’s convenient, and for many of us, essential.
However, while mobile devices are incredibly powerful, they’re also vulnerable to cybercrime. It’s easy to assume your company’s IT has you covered; however, according to the fourth annual Verizon Mobile Security Index, 24% of organizations reported sacrificing security of mobile devices to get things done in 2020.
Along with that, the rise of cloud-based services and remote work has increased reliance on shadow IT, which has 85% of survey respondents concerned. The blurring lines between personal and work devices could leave your privacy exposed. You can’t control hackers lurking in your local coffeeshop or an airport lounge, but you can easily protect your devices. Here’s a helpful rundown on simple measures you can take to keep your data safe while working remotely.
1. Safeguard Your Devices With a One-and-done Option
There are four basic protections companies should have in place: regularly changing passwords, encrypting data, restricting access to essential personnel, and frequently testing security. Unfortunately, the number of companies with these protocols dropped from nearly 15% in 2018 to under 10% in 2020, according to the latest Verizon Mobile Security Index. Those stats weren’t ideal to begin with, and looking forward, the threats are still there. On your mobile devices and home computers, Verizon’s Digital Secure provides a one-stop suite of privacy and security tools, taking the guesswork out of data security.
2. Tackle Mal-Innovation Head-on
Smartphones are easy to lose and offer easy access to your personal data—not a good combo for security. It’s great to have bank details and social media at your fingertips, but you want to keep them at a safe distance from the grubby mitts of a cybercriminal. Even if you don’t misplace your phone, hackers can potentially use your mobile devices as gateways to the cloud or other systems they connect to. Phishing scams can also look more convincing on a tiny screen. Cybercriminals are clever and stealthy, but you can stay a step ahead with anti-malware and antivirus protection, like that offered by Digital Secure.
3. Use Your Mobile Device Safely
Among survey respondents, 40% felt mobile devices were their company’s top security risk. Since mobile devices are so portable, you’re more likely to use them on different networks and increase your exposure to potential threats. When you upgrade to Digital Secure premium, you get an extra layer of protection for your mobile devices through a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN disguises your location and encrypts all data you send over the internet so hackers can’t find you. It’s like a game of hide and seek—and you win.
4. Understand the Difference Between Web and Wi-Fi Security
When you use the internet, web security is avoiding shady websites and Wi-Fi security is avoiding dodgy connections like busy cafés with open networks. Not that worried about public Wi-Fi? Consider this: 59% of respondents in the retail sector, including hospitality companies, have seen rogue hotspots using their business name. Likewise, when you use your phone to shop, we’re all a little less vigilant. As a precaution, the Digital Secure app warns you when you try connecting to an unsecured network or visiting a suspicious website.
5. Minimize ID Theft
There’s nothing fun about having your identity stolen. For Digital Secure premium users, there are dark web email searches for making sure baddies aren’t passing your info around the underbelly of the web, as well as an Identity Theft Protection (IDTP) service. The latter features always-on dark web monitoring, social media monitoring, lost wallet guidance, and ID recovery support. But you may be wondering: What do you actually do when you get a dark web alert? For starters, change your passwords.
With the landscape of how and where we work changing fast, the way we protect our devices is becoming increasingly important, especially with more than 75% of companies considering or allowing BYOD (bring your own device) models, according to Verizon’s Future of Work 2020 survey.
To secure your devices, download Verizon’s Digital SecureVerizon’s Digital Secure with premium features.
