{"id":10893,"date":"2020-06-26T10:30:47","date_gmt":"2020-06-26T02:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline-tmp\/?p=10893"},"modified":"2020-06-26T13:10:57","modified_gmt":"2020-06-26T05:10:57","slug":"how-to-keep-yourself-safe-from-cyber-attacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/how-to-keep-yourself-safe-from-cyber-attacks\/","title":{"rendered":"How to keep yourself safe from cyber attacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

With our lives becoming increasingly digital, it\u2019s time to get into the habit of practising cyber hygiene.<\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]TEXT: KEENAN PEREIRA
\nPHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]He\u2019s hunched over the laptop tabulating figures from the last fiscal year, while she\u2019s presenting a report to an overseas client over a conference call. At the start of 2020, these scenes were common in offices across Singapore. But in recent months, we\u2019re increasingly likely to find people carrying out such tasks in homes around the island instead. This work-from-home (WFH) arrangement for non-frontline staff was initiated by the Government on 7 April as part of the Circuit Breaker measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. While such a measure allows work to be performed in a \u2018clinically safer\u2019 environment, it can also lead to increased cybersecurity risk without the security protection that office systems provide. The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore notes that online criminals have been capitalising on the pandemic to hack into organisational and personal computer networks. Many of these malicious activities are conducted through COVID-19-themed phishing attacks and baiting scams.<\/p>\n

Here are some tips to help keep your digital device safe when you WFH:[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”10894″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”SECURE YOUR ROUTER ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd1111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Averia%20Sans%20Libre%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Ensure that your home router is secured by changing the default password, and check that security settings are set to:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Enable<\/strong> automatic updates
\n\u2022 Disable<\/strong> remote access
\n\u2022 Disable<\/strong> Universal Plug and Play[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”10897″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”STRENGTHEN YOUR PASSWORDS ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd1111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Averia%20Sans%20Libre%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Strong passwords are much harder for hackers to crack. Use one that has a combination of uppercase and lowercase alphabets, numbers and special characters; has at least 16 characters; and does not contain any words relating to you or the service that the password is protecting. You should also avoid using the same password for various accounts. Employers should make it mandatory for staff to change passwords every three months.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”10898″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”ZOOM IN ON THIS ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd1111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Averia%20Sans%20Libre%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Most meetings are held virtually now. If you are organising one, be sure to share the access code and meeting URL only with intended participants. Adding a password is a good way of ensuring greater security. If you are joining a conference with an organiser you are not familiar with, avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments during these chats, as criminals have used such platforms to send malware.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”SOUND THE ALARM ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd1111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Averia%20Sans%20Libre%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Think you might be a victim of a cyber-attack? Do not suffer in silence out of fear of repercussions; the sooner you let your company IT team know, the better. Also alert them if you detect any unusual or suspicious activities on your terminal, or if you have clicked on any phishing links. Employers should put in place IT and cybersecurity response plans that can be acted on quickly in case of an attack.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”10899″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”SHUT DOWN, AFTER USE” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd1111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Averia%20Sans%20Libre%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]If you have a tendency to just physically slam your laptop shut after a day of work, you should stop this habit, as it just puts your laptop in \u2018sleep\u2019 mode. Shutting down your machine offers the best protection, as it breaks the connection a hacker may have established with your network and disrupts any possible mischief.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”10900″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”BE WARY OF UNSOLICITED CONTENT ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd1111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Averia%20Sans%20Libre%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]If you receive emails or text messages from unknown sources \u2014
\nespecially those that request for your personal information or money
\ntransfer \u2014 delete immediately. Avoid clicking on links or opening
\nattachments found in such mails. If the matter is important, confirm
\nthe request through another medium, like a phone call.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]\"\"<\/p>\n

Hackers put more than half a million login details from the teleconferencing app Zoom on the Dark Web for sale. Fortunately, they were discovered and bought over by a cyber security company.<\/p>\n

Source: The Straits Times<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”WFH SELF-CARE TIPS” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23dd1111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Averia%20Sans%20Libre%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Now that you\u2019re practising good cyber hygiene, make it a point to take care of your physical and mental wellbeing by:<\/p>\n