Working remotely is the new normal these days. Many people were sent home abruptly without much information about the best ways to keep their PC safe once they were working from home. Even if you are fairly tech-savvy, it can be hard to know for sure what safe remote work processes look like if you have not been given any guidance.
If you are working from home and are worried that you are not following the best practices to keep your PC safe, you are not alone! It is likely that a lot of people have similar questions and are not sure who to ask for advice. Thankfully, there are some easy tips and tricks that you can use to help you work remotely, with safety and security on your side.
If you are ready to learn more about keeping your PC safe while you work remotely each day, read on!
How to Keep Your PC Safe When Working Remotely
1. Use Antivirus Solutions
While this might be handled in part by a VPN that you are working on when you are at home, you still need to have a quality antivirus solution in place. This is important for home use after business hours, and as a second layer of protection for your connection through your VPN.
Antivirus software has come a long way since it was first introduced years ago and you will find that most products on the market will protect your PC from a range of possible attack types. It is important to pick an antivirus that will protect against various forms of attacks so that you do not fall victim to one of the more basic means of accessing your data without permission.
While there are free antivirus solutions out there that are adequate, a more expensive option will give you better support and more layers of protection for all of your devices. If all else fails and the cost is an issue, at least use a free antivirus product option.
2. Do Updates When Offered
One of the worst things that you can do when you are trying to protect your home computer during work hours is to ignore updates as they come through. Updates are how software on your computer is kept up to date and crucial to the security of your device. When you don’t do updates as they are offered, you open up your PC to risks related to a lack of support for security functions and updated security improvements that need to be installed via updates.
If you do not allow updates to be done on time, you are cheating yourself out of the benefits of having software that is supported fully by the vendor. Part of the expense of new software is related to payment for this service, and you should make sure that you do not ignore this necessary and important part of your PC’s overall maintenance.
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3. Encrypt Your WIFI
This is a layer of protection that should be done when you add a password to your WIFI. Make sure that you are never leaving your WIFI unsecured and make sure that you encrypt your connection. You can never be too safe when you are setting up your WIFI. Having good security protocols in place for your WIFI can make the difference between being hacked and being secure.
Your WIFI needs to be secure so that your personal login information and passwords are not stolen from you as you are working. Bad actors can access your work network through your home’s WIFI if you do not set it up correctly. This must be avoided at all costs if you want to be able to work remotely with security and peace of mind.
4. Use a VPN
Most businesses would not even consider sending employees to work from home without a VPN, but if you are a freelancer or someone who works on their own computer and just interfaces online with contacts when delivering work, you need to be sure that you are using a VPN. This is especially true if you typically work in public places and use public WIFI.
Using one of the best VPNs is a great solution to encrypting your internet connection and making sure that you have a private browsing network to access whenever it is needed. If you are working with personal or private client data, you might not have enough protection from prying eyes in a public workspace, but you can at least protect your data from being accessed through public WIFI.
5. Always Lock Your Device
This is helpful, even if you are at home. Whether you are expecting a repair person to come to your home, or if you have friends over while you are working, you should never leave your device unlocked or left alone. Even if the people in your home are not trying to steal company information, they still might get access to client data or details that they should not be made aware of.
Anytime that you step away from your desk, even if it’s just to go get a glass of water, you will need to lock your computer. This is a rule at work when you are around coworkers, so it must apply to family members and guests in your home as well.
Keeping Your PC Safe When you Work Remotely is Easy
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By using these tips and tricks, you will increase your remote work security and safety many times over. You will be freed of concerns about hackers or data theft, and you can eliminate worries that your WIFI might not be secure enough.
Changing your remote work protections and your remote work habits can go a long way toward preparing your home to be a safe and secure work location. Always make sure to use these tips when you are working at home and continue to keep your PC safe.
