Cyber- Awareness while working from home!

Life pre-COVID-19 may be a thing of the past, but cyber threats, phishing and cyber-crime continue, and have actually spiked with many working from home. Why? Well, at the workplace, somebody else takes responsibility and care for the cyber security measures. When working from home, that responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders and especially if you are using your own computer for working.

What can we do to work as safely as possible from our homes?

1. Secure your home network –Ensure that your WiFi has a password. For added security measures change your router’s default password in order to strengthen the security.
2. Use antivirus software –Antivirus software is important for preventing malware from compromising your work and your employer’s systems.
3. Make sure your system and programs are up to date –Programs and operating systems are updated regularly to prevent criminals from exploiting their weaknesses. Make sure your operating system is running the latest version. Enable automatic updates to make sure your systems are safe.
4. Ensure your privacy with a VPN –Workplace computers usually have Virtual Private Networks (VPN) configured. If you are using your own computer, get a VPN to secure your connection and encrypt your data. With VPN your important data can’t be accessed by anyone you don’t want to.
5. Avoid oversharing your screen –With the unavoidable increase of online meetings, it is important to be cautious when sharing your screen. If possible, don’t leave any windows open that you don’t want to share. Accidents do happen, and sometimes you might share something that you didn’t mean to. While it can be awkward, it’s also a privacy issue. You might be oversharing content that is not meant to be viewed by others.
6. Ensure the privacy of your online meetings – The recently reported hacking of an online parliamentary meeting emphasises the need to only share the meeting ID and Password with the specific group of people you intend on having at the meeting. In the same way that you would not open your boardroom door to random passers-by, do not let in uninvited persons or those whose identity you don’t know, into the online meetings.
7. Beware Covid-19 related scams and any phishing scams – If you get emails with any suspicious links or attachments related to Covid-19, don’t open them. Better safe than sorry.
8. Don’t share personal information in messages or social media – Don’t share any personal information on messages or emails. Do not click on links in suspicious or unsolicited emails. Only share necessary information and only with people you know.

Avoid sharing pictures of your remote working station on social media as you may be unwittingly sharing important and/or confidential information about yourself or the operations of your employer.

During this lockdown period, MISA is operating remotely, always ready to assist our members.

How to contact MISA during the lockdown?

Kindly utilise the following e-mail addresses and links for assistance during this time:

UIF/TERS Support                                            UIFClaim@ms.org.za

Legal/Labour-related enquiries                     Legal@ms.org.za

MISA Benefit claim-related enquiries           Claims@misa.org.za

Any other enquiries                                         Info@ms.org.za

Website                                                             www.misa.org.za

Mobile App                                                      https://onelink.to/w9a7ku

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