Cybersecurity out of the office

Cyber threats don’t stop as you walk out the office door. Public WIFI and charging points create opportunities for hackers to exploit security gaps. This makes protecting against cybercrime like shooting a moving target, and you’ll need to be ready to move with it. 

To help you get ahead of the game, we’ve gathered some of the latest advice on cybersecurity. But even the most effective measures will only work if everyone is fully trained on them, so keep your team up to speed. 

Read our introduction to cybersecurity blog for more on common cyberthreats: "Insure IT: Recognising risk in the digital age".

Public Wi-Fi: a privacy pitfall

Tempting though free internet may be in this data hungry age, public Wi-Fi networks are an easy and lucrative target for hackers. If any of your staff take company phones or computers on the road, ensure they know the risks and how to avoid them. 

Cyber criminals use various lines of attack, from creating phony networks (often with innocent names such as “Customer Public WiFi”) to lure you in and steal your data, to commandeering a public network and intercepting data as it uploads, to sending a “worm” through the network to infect your phone and steal data directly.

Avoiding these attacks requires extra caution, but the best advice is to shun public Wi-Fi and find a secure alternative if possible. If there is no alternative, provide employees with a VPN, which creates a secure connection to servers. They should also not access sensitive information while using public Wi-Fi, and switch off automatic connectivity that could latch onto a phony network.

Step back before you charge

The arrival of USB ports in airports and on trains may seem like a life saver, but there have been cases of cybercriminals altering public USB ports to infect devices with malware or steal personal information. To avoid this, carry a portable charger at all times.

Outsmart your speakers

If you use voice recognition devices such as Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri or Google Assistant, you could be at risk of revealing a lot of confidential information to hackers. Smart speakers record and save every request or purchase you make, storing up a huge history of personal data. Turn this feature off in the device settings, and use a special vocal pin number to prevent unauthorised shopping.

As new cyberthreats emerge, so will new defence mechanisms, so keep an eye on the latest cybersecurity advice. 

Don’t forget to check our advice on cyber security for homeworking; “Prudent practice when working from home”

However, not all risks can be avoided, and Cyber Liability Insurance can help your charity recover the costs. 

For more information, speak to one of our experts on 0345 040 7702.