Dublin Core
Title
Five Tips to Help You Work Securely from Home
Creator
The Information Security Group, CIS
Publisher
Today@Brown
Date
March 25, 2020
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
As you adjust to your new work environment at home, CIS’s Information Security Group offers five tips that will not only help secure your work, but will make you and others in your household far more safe as you create a cybersecure home.
1. YOU. Technology alone cannot fully protect you – you are the best defense. Attackers have learned that the easiest way to get what they want is to target you, rather than your computer or other devices.
> Learn to spot phishing and more tips at http://brown.edu/go/phishing.
2. HOME NETWORK. Almost every home network starts with a wireless (or Wi-Fi) network. This is what enables all of your devices to connect to the Internet. Most home wireless networks are controlled by your Internet router or a separate, dedicated wireless access point. To make it more secure:
> Change the default administrator password, since attackers can easily discover the default password that the manufacturer has provided.
> Allow only people that you trust by requiring a strong password to connect (different from the administrator password). This will also encrypt their activity once connected.
3. PASSWORDS + TWO-FACTOR. When a site asks you to create a password, make it a strong one. The more characters it has, the stronger it is, so passphrases are encouraged.
> The passwords/phrases should also be unique for each site. This means that if one passphrase is compromised, all of your other accounts and devices are still safe.
> Passwords alone are no longer good enough. Many services now offer the ability for two-step authentication. Wherever possible, enable it.
4. UPDATES. Make sure each of your computers, mobile devices, programs and apps are running the latest version of its software. To stay current, simply enable automatic updating whenever possible.
> This rule applies to almost any technology connected to a network, including not only your work devices but Internet-connected TV’s, baby monitors, security cameras, home routers, gaming consoles or even your car.
5. BOUNDARIES FOR WORK DEVICES. Make sure others in your household understand they cannot use your work devices. They can accidentally erase or modify information, or, perhaps even worse, accidentally infect the device.
For other tips on working from home, visit http://brown.edu/go/working-remotely.
1. YOU. Technology alone cannot fully protect you – you are the best defense. Attackers have learned that the easiest way to get what they want is to target you, rather than your computer or other devices.
> Learn to spot phishing and more tips at http://brown.edu/go/phishing.
2. HOME NETWORK. Almost every home network starts with a wireless (or Wi-Fi) network. This is what enables all of your devices to connect to the Internet. Most home wireless networks are controlled by your Internet router or a separate, dedicated wireless access point. To make it more secure:
> Change the default administrator password, since attackers can easily discover the default password that the manufacturer has provided.
> Allow only people that you trust by requiring a strong password to connect (different from the administrator password). This will also encrypt their activity once connected.
3. PASSWORDS + TWO-FACTOR. When a site asks you to create a password, make it a strong one. The more characters it has, the stronger it is, so passphrases are encouraged.
> The passwords/phrases should also be unique for each site. This means that if one passphrase is compromised, all of your other accounts and devices are still safe.
> Passwords alone are no longer good enough. Many services now offer the ability for two-step authentication. Wherever possible, enable it.
4. UPDATES. Make sure each of your computers, mobile devices, programs and apps are running the latest version of its software. To stay current, simply enable automatic updating whenever possible.
> This rule applies to almost any technology connected to a network, including not only your work devices but Internet-connected TV’s, baby monitors, security cameras, home routers, gaming consoles or even your car.
5. BOUNDARIES FOR WORK DEVICES. Make sure others in your household understand they cannot use your work devices. They can accidentally erase or modify information, or, perhaps even worse, accidentally infect the device.
For other tips on working from home, visit http://brown.edu/go/working-remotely.
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