5 Cyber Security Risks of Working from Home

Working from home is gradually becoming the new normal. And as we take time to adapt to it and learn new ways to work effectively and efficiently, a lot of us are realizing that our technology and machines need to be upgraded to facilitate this process.

Moreover, bringing devices and digital networks home, as most of us have done over the last few months, has turned into a source of many security concerns.

We don’t mean the usual WFH problems—24/7 work hours, no private workspace, interference at work and disturbance from your family life. There are much bigger problems when you bring work home.

Cybersecurity not being a primary concern for a company makes them a target. Digital infrastructure at home is much more vulnerable to cybercrime compared to commercial ones. Here, we’ve outlined five cybersecurity risks you need to keep in mind and address as you and your business shift to WFH:

Phishing

A whole range of malicious applications has been launched to take advantage of people trying to learn about COVID-19. The need to know more has led people to access links and download apps that promise help in these trying times.

This exposes them to malignant data stealing software which can easily find their way to your business once they gain access to your employee’s device and network.

Physical Digital Location

As WFH continues, your devices and online networks are going to exist in unfamiliar digital spaces. This means that sensitive work data is easier to access than ever.

Employees tend to access work material through a variety of devices that might not be secure. This poses a cyber-threat because it’s much harder to identify a source with a network that spans the entire city, or maybe even the globe.

Unsecured Wi-Fi Network               

Home Wi-Fi networks have worse security checks in place that can serve as an easy target for hackers. Because of the sudden shift to WFH, the protocols for adequate protection have not been put in place for network security, which can be a cybercrime hazard for big and small, businesses.

Increased Data Sharing

Information sharing has moved online during WFH. While most workplaces used to transfer data and files through secure, private networks, they’re now increasingly being transmitted through public internet. It’s much easier for these networks to get compromised, resulting in sensitive information being leaked. 

Infected VPN and End Point Integrity

Infected and pre-compromised VPNs can serve as an entry point for hackers. This can result in stealthy hacking operations, as the user believes they are using a safe private network.

It’s essential for individuals who are working from home to be aware of the cybersecurity risks posed through remote work.

Employers and employees both should work to secure their network through various means. One such method is to put penetration testing providers like Lean Security to work; build a secure online community for your business.

Contact Tracing: How Does it Work?

With the accelerating rate of COVID-19 cases in Australia, the government launched a contract tracing app, named COVIDSafe, to find and contain outbreaks of this rapidly evolving virus. Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, compared the app to a "sunscreen" that would protect the citizens and "is a ticket to a COVID-safe Australia." The app received a pheromonal response and was downloaded by more than a million people within just a few hours of its release, as reported by BBC.

How Does The COVIDSafe Application Work?

This app can be downloaded from the Google Play store or the Apple App Store. Once installed, you will be asked to register yourself and provide personal details, which will be deleted after 21 days, or if someone deletes the app from their phone.

With the use of Bluetooth technology, the application works by tracking people you come in contact with (who have also used the app in the previous three weeks), after which both IDs are traded anonymously. If and when the virus infects an individual, they will receive an SMS from a health official with a code that is required by the app to grant consent to share their contact activity for the past 21 days. The app will notify the people that have been exposed and suggest self-isolation. Health officials will then reach out to the infected person, offer advice on testing, and stay safe while protecting family and friends. Hence, aiming to automate COVID-19 contact tracing and permit the ease of restriction.

Who Has Access To My Data?

The app requires users to fill out their name, age, phone number, and postcode, which will be encrypted to ensure maximum data protection. If a person is tested positive, the data (with your consent) will be held by the federal government on an Amazon Web Services server in Australia. As stated by PM, Morrison, the data can only be accessed by state health authorities charged with contact tracing. 

With millions of people using the app, data security can be the number one concern of many users. Even though data is encrypted, insecure cryptographic storage can breach a person's privacy and lead to cyber threats. Thus, the protection of web applications is an absolute necessity.

At Lean Security, we offer managed security solutions that are designed to keep web applications safe and secure. 

Don't let cybersecurity become a threat, and together, let's fight one virus at a time!

The Perks of a Pen Test

Cybersecurity has become a vital component of companies across the globe. The acceleration of malware along with website and network attacks cannot only be stopped by an anti-virus or anti-malware. You need to take a step forward and carry out a security risk assessment to guarantee a fool-proof security barrier.

How can this be done?

The simple, yet complex answer to this is Penetration Testing or ethical hacking. This practice involves a simulated test on the computer system to discover possible security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by an attacker. 

The penetration testing services provided by us offer comprehensive solutions for all your cyber security concerns. Here’s how pen tests can protect your app and systems better:

1.      Discover Potentiation Loopholes

The best way to identify a loophole is to falsify an attack. This provides you with an opportunity to trace an external hacking attempt and draw our cracks in the system that could be potential entryways for hackers. The insights gained can be analysed by experts to recommend new strategies. This method acts as an authorized way of bullet-proofing the security system.  

2.      Fortify Your Security Strategy

With the results of the test, the data collected with help understand where the problem lies exactly. Once the system vulnerabilities are discovered, the next step is to strengthen existing and implement a fresh security strategy. As pen testing service providers, we also present recommendations regarding suitable strategies that can or should be employed by the business to avoid future problems. Hence, with a stronger security strategy, the system’s defence mechanism is sharpened and aids in boosting its immunity against similar attacks.

3.      Ensure Data Protection

Lastly, but most importantly, a breach of data protection could be particularly damaging and extremely costly. Data is the wealth of a company and once it goes in the wrong hands, chances for redemption are extremely low. So why take the risk of losing millions of dollars? Pen testing will assure all data channels are tightly locked and security barriers are stronger than ever!

If you haven’t already, then what are you waiting for?

Lean Security is a certified penetration test provider and will accompany you on a journey to ensure maximum security for your business. We’re here to ensure all your security strategies are up-to-date and the strongest they can be.  So, contact us today, and we can discuss the most suitable type of pen test for your business.

DDOS ATTACK

The Importance of Encryption for Storing Customer Data

In today’s fast-paced world of technology, cybersecurity has been one of the overarching problems faced by businesses. Insecure cryptographic storage enables hackers from all over the world to access confidential data with ease. Hence, the process of data encryption has become a vital component of system security strategy.

What is Data Encryption?

As complex as it may sound, data encryption is the simplest and most essential process to guarantee data protection. This is a form of technology that converts simple data into one that needs to be decrypted in order to be read. In today’s day and age, encryption is one of the most mainstream and viable information security strategies utilized not only by individual users but huge organizations as well, to guarantee the security of data that’s sent between a program and a server.   

With the use of algorithms, also known as ciphers, the data is concealed from others and only the one with a password can decrypt this data.

Why is it Important for Storing Customer Data?

Guaranteeing the secure storage of customer information is crucial to maintaining good customer relationships. By ensuring the information is kept secure, the notoriety of your business is guarded. This also helps in bolstering the trust of the customer as they know the business has taken an initiative to go further and encrypt their data and can be regarded as a trustworthy brand.

Apart from the conspicuous advantage of shielding private data from being stolen, encryption additionally provides authenticity. It’s utilized to check the origin of the message and affirm that during the transmission period, the message hasn’t been tampered with. It highlights the fact that the company is responsible with their data, in turn enhancing customer relationships.

Data encryption has become a necessity in the arena of cybersecurity; knowing that a customer’s data is guarded saves a company from any fines in the future, in case of any leak of sensitive information. As even if the information were to get leaked, only one with the cipher (password) can access the information; to others it’s not visible in a readable format.

How Can I Get My Data Encrypted?

Hang in there! We understand, data encryption can be an overwhelming process when you can’t figure out where to start! But the right people will get the job done. At Lean Security, we provide you with data encryption and penetration testing solutions you can rely on.