{"id":8027,"date":"2020-04-07T20:42:28","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T20:42:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.securitytoday.de\/2026\/04\/02\/post_id-2027\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T15:27:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T15:27:07","slug":"cyberattacks-new-security-vulnerabilities-emerge-from-remote-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.securitytoday.de\/en\/2020\/04\/07\/cyberattacks-new-security-vulnerabilities-emerge-from-remote-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Cyberattacks: New Security Vulnerabilities Emerge from Remote Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

The coronavirus crisis is forcing more and more people to work from home. Early consequences of this lightning-fast digital transformation are already apparent – cybercriminals are having a field day. Here are four practical tips to help you stay protected.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Almost everyone is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic – and cybercriminals are cashing in with COVID-19 spam and coronavirus-themed phishing scams, making the deal of a lifetime. This works for three reasons: First, many people are afraid. Second, many want to help – and are therefore more likely to open attachments or click links they\u2019d normally distrust. And third, of course, millions of employees across Germany are now working remotely.<\/p>\n

Few people have received formal training on how to work securely from home – after all, most had to switch workplaces overnight. Even the Bavarian government appears to have fallen behind: Developers from the magazine c\u2019t<\/em> were able to join a video conference with the state\u2019s interior minister<\/a> because the system wasn\u2019t secured.<\/p>\n

Here are four tips to keep hackers away from your company\u2019s sensitive data:<\/p>\n

1. Keep Work and Personal Activities Separate<\/h2>\n

Many of us use a single device for both work and private life – and buying a second laptop simply isn\u2019t an option for most. In such cases, using two separate browsers can already help significantly. Creating a dedicated user account on the device – without administrator rights – adds another layer of protection. Avoid using your partner\u2019s or a friend\u2019s laptop for work-related tasks. After all, you can\u2019t tell just by looking whether a device is infected with malware or spyware.<\/p>\n

2. Use Secure Communication Channels<\/h2>\n

Information previously discussed only in the office now needs to be shared digitally. Unencrypted emails, Skype calls, and many chat services are essentially free tickets for hackers to access sensitive data.<\/p>\n

Messaging apps like Signal and Threema offer robust security. Surprisingly, WhatsApp also uses end-to-end encryption – just like Facebook Messenger. While the social media giant can see when<\/em> and with whom<\/em> someone communicates, it cannot read the content<\/em> of those messages.<\/p>\n

3. Use Strong, Unique Passwords\u2026<\/h2>\n

\u2026everywhere. Attackers can rapidly test massive numbers of password combinations using so-called brute-force attacks. Don\u2019t forget to change default passwords for your Wi-Fi network and router as well.<\/p>\n

Best practices include:<\/p>\n