Guest blog: Tips to Stay Safe from Cyber Threats While Working from Home

Tips to Stay Safe from Cyber Threats While Working from Home for Legal Professionals

Having to work from home brings a whole new dynamic to it. As a legal counsel, these times would have made you put in a lot of adjustments to deliver your services better while still obeying the lockdown rules.

Likewise, this is a time when you will need to use the internet more. That is why you have to be on the lookout lest you fall on the wrong side of the law. Sorry, the internet.

Reasons Why Lawyers Should Stay Alert

You might not think that lawyers are a target of hacks as much as, say, an accountant. That could not be farther from the truth, though.

In your line of work, you come across sensitive data and information which most people would want to lay their hands on. 

Such data might be from an investigation that you don’t want to make public yet. It could also be jottings of your private notes with clients, which could be used to bring you and the client down if it falls into the wrong hands.

So, it does not have to be money-related before a hacker gets motivated to snoop around your computer.

Finally, the fact that you are now working from home means that you are more of an easier target. After all, not everyone has the same kind of firewall that they get on their work networks when at home.

Staying Safe

Fortunately, this is not the time to panic. You can also get your security profile beefed up without having to spend an arm and a leg.

The first and most important thing is that you always operate on an encrypted internet network. This is one of the best ways to ensure your files are not intercepted or hijacked on the net.  

To do so would be to get a secure VPN to keep your internet data safe while avoiding public Wi-Fi networks too. If you find yourself at the mercy of a public Wi-Fi connection at any time, make sure you have a VPN at hand to secure your connection too.

Likewise, you must verify attachments in emails with antivirus software before you download them. In the same vein, never click on links in email – especially when it is an unsolicited mail. That is how hackers use phishing attacks to get the best of unsuspecting people.

That said, always update your apps and system as soon as you get a notification. There is a high chance that the IT guys were the ones in charge of that before, but you now have to step up for yourself. 

Finally, look out for suspicious behaviour on your accounts and apps. If an application/ program/ service you use is showing you signs of a possible breach, it is time to change your passwords and security protocols.

This week’s guest blog comes from @ TurnOnVPN