Five IoT Cybersecurity Tips for Stay at Home Workers

Social distancing is one of the essential ways of controlling the spread of the COVID-19, which is leading to more and more companies asking office staff to work from home. Remote working is happening over open network that can generate additional threats to cybersecurity. Companies are evaluating how to continue businesses securely under a completely new networking.

This trend is likely to conquer throughout the labor market too, with a report from Gartner observing that up to 41% of employees are likely to work remotely for at least for a limited period post coronavirus. In this post, we have outlined some of the top IoT cybersecurity tips for stay at home workers and how they can protect themselves and their organization against probable threats.

Use real Two-factor or Multi-factor Authentication

When configuring an IoT device, to assure really robust security every time new online service login accessed by staff working from home should be considered two or multi-factor authentication (2FA/MFA). This security should contain email, cloud storage, social media and any other online asset. Typically, these are an integration of passwords, numerical codes, or biometrics. Many services are now providing a stronger version of 2FA which is also called OTP.

Many people already utilize tools like the Google Authenticator for 2FA that let workers utilize a smartphone to validate with a fingerprint or through facial recognition. By utilizing two or more security controls to validate identity, it adds an extra layer of protection. Holding several security controls instead of one simple password means the verification process remains secure even if one of the authentication factors becomes compromised.

Shut Down Devices when Offline and Use VPN

When devices are not in use, they should be completely switched off. This will support to assure they cannot be hacked or misused when left disregarded. It’s not sufficient just to place a device into standby mode. Sometimes, users have to turn the power totally off to minimize the risks. It’s specifically true for any device with a security camera. Most of the enterprises already have a VPN for their employees, even with cloud applications as well as resources; require taking notice and securing their cloud resources beyond their VPN. As VPN terminates several attack vectors, it is essential to understand its utilization and importance.

Turn on Security Features and Utilize Properly 

In the manufacturing area, IoT is allowing on-site teams to now execute some tasks from distributed locations. This usually includes the utilization of secure remote sensors, which analyze key on-site metrics and assure that plants are capable to run securely and effectively.

However, it’s essential to understand that many such IoT devices have security features that may be deactivated or switched off, generally because this allows ease of use from the worker’s point of view. If you assess these adjacent default security credentials that are never updated, generates an immense cybersecurity risk that keeps sensitive and crucial data at risk. By keeping this in mind it is required to enable many security features as possible when working from home, while also regularly upgrading your passwords and optimizing the protections for personal devices.

Run Updates Frequently

All home electronic devices should be sustained in an updated firmware version and all security patches require to be utilized quickly as well. Many internet-connected devices (routers and internet-connected appliances) introduce a simple target for hackers. Many reasonable devices acquired several years ago have no longer received firmware updates from the manufacturers, as they moved their resources to support newer releases. Such IoT devices should be disposed of through a proper and manage recycling method.

Routers present a major potential risk, as hackers can handle the traffic going via the routers and implement several strategies to attack home users. DNS hijacking is one of the examples where users are trying to go to banking websites that are diverted to phishing destinations that look totally like the hacked bank login page. Updated firmware therefore, can seriously limit the success of such cyber hacking.

Be Cynical with every URL you click and Read Related Instructions.

It is necessary to understand that IoT devices are diversified and can present a broad range of potential risks and vulnerabilities. Hence it is required to read the related instructions when setting up and configuring a new IoT device from home so that you can take the appropriate steps to optimize security.

Few devices may also come with default usernames and passwords, which will be required to be modified the very first time that you power the device on. Also, check whether any software upgrades are needed and set the auto-update feature to assure that the latest versions are running. On the other hand, users must be extra attentive when clicking on links in emails and social media messages.

Without directly addressing somebody in the office to the person to authenticate its authenticity, fraudsters may act that the email is arriving from another employee and ask to open a linked invoice where the attachment is malware. Hackers often mislead users into downloading software with embedded malware. This means that updates and downloads should never be performed from the links in the emails or pop-ups, but rather than, users should only go to an official website and download any updates or new installs from official sites or online app stores.

Above are few IoT CyberSecurity tips for the remote workers to look out for. It should be our responsibility to be alert and adjust to the new normal in the post-pandemic world, whether your business is a big enterprise or an SME. While it looks like we are steadily coming out of the Covid-19 period, work-from-home will be the still standard for many people for many weeks and months. And when life comes to normal, workers will recognize that these IoT Cybersecurity tips are excellent life skills for the future as more IoT devices come into the home.