In the past, the news was filled with stories about ransomware attacks, malware, and other forms of cybercrime. Now? All of those stories have been overshadowed with information about the coronavirus pandemic. Understandably so, given how rapidly changing the scenario is. As coronavirus cases continue to rise, many businesses have been forced to shut down or transition to remote work – keeping up with social distancing and/or shelter-in-place orders. For many, the importance of cybersecurity has been overlooked due to the rush to implement a remote work plan.

Now Isn’t the Time to Forego Cybersecurity. Hackers Are Taking Advantage of the Increase in Remote Workers Around the World…

While it’s great to see so many businesses leveraging various tools for remote work, it’s essential to keep in mind that cyberthreats are real and they’re increasing with each passing day. We’re seeing an influx of the following:

• Phony domains containing the word “zoom” in them to try and convince unsuspecting individuals to download malware.
• Zoom-bombing wherein hackers gain access to meetings without authorization and show inappropriate content/listen to steal sensitive information.

A recent report found that approximately 1,700 new domains containing the word “zoom” in them have been registered since the pandemic started. If you are requesting your staff members to download the video conferencing software, be aware of this threat and send them the correct link.

Remote Work Has the Tendency to Create More Entry Points for Hackers Looking to Steal Sensitive Information. Here’s How to Stay Safe…

Although remote work has been known to be less secure than working in the office, it’s possible to keep your video conference calls safe against hackers. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe while keeping connected:

Always Require a Password

You have the option to password protect your meetings to ensure only authorized individuals can gain access. For instant meetings, go to your user settings and enable passwords. For scheduled meetings, you can simply choose to require a password while you’re setting up the meeting.

Don’t Use Your Personal Meeting ID

Although your personal meeting ID is handy for recurring meetings, it’s always best to create a unique ID instead. This will be a different numeric code for each meeting you hold, even if it’s every single day. It’s much safer and lowers the risk of your personal meeting ID falling into the wrong hands.

Don’t Announce Meetings on Social Media

We’ve seen many businesses, even large corporations, announce meetings via social media for their employees and customers to join. This is always a risky idea as you’re opening up your meeting to disruptions and/or malicious individuals. Instead, send an email to the people you’d like to participate in.

Be Careful of Vulnerabilities

Zoom, like any other software, experiences vulnerabilities that can be exploited. For instance, there is a zero-day vulnerability within waiting rooms. It’s best to stay ahead of the vulnerabilities out there and wait until they’re patched to use features impacted. For now, allow attendees to join right away rather than using a waiting room.

Disable Screen Sharing for Attendees

Hackers use zoom-bombing to display inappropriate content during meetings. This can be prevented as long as you disable screen sharing for attendees. Go to personal, then settings, then in meeting and choose “only the host can share” to keep screen sharing capabilities to the host.

Need Help? Get in Touch with Initial.IT at {phone} Now. Let’s Weather This Storm Together.