Increasing Anxiety Over Online Security, Privacy

An F-Secure survey of 7,200 internet users in nine countries found that 60% report they increasingly find themselves worrying about online security and privacy even if nothing is wrong.

That share rises to 67% for those working from home over the last year. Remote workers report higher levels of feeling overwhelmed by online life than others. As a result, they’re also avoiding new technologies, and changing their online habits in greater numbers.

Tom Gaffney is F-Secure security consultant.

“Steps everyone can take to secure themselves and their privacy when they work from home include updating their devices and software, ensuring their personal devices have security software installed, and some other basic infosec measures,” he said. “But keeping your personal and professional online activities separate from one another may be as important as any of these tips. Restricting what sort of things you do on each device and during which times can be an essential way to ease digital anxiety.”

Jasmine Henry is field security director at JupiterOne.

“Security teams should work with HR and people leaders to scale up education initiatives on secure remote behaviors and existing security controls to mitigate remote worker anxiety,” she said. “Remote workers should feel empowered by their security teams and educated to make secure choices when working from home.”

Security teams should educate their remote workers on existing controls that have been scaled to remote work settings, including VPN, device management, endpoint protection, data loss prevention and more, Henry said. In addition, security teams should clearly and continuously educate their remote teams on what is expected for remote workers to be responsible and follow acceptable use policies.

John Bambenek is principal threat hunter at Netenrich. He said when people have to badge in, have security guards or the other obvious things to protect the security of the building, they will feel more secure. Remote workers must contend with the feeling of separation, which also creates a feeling of separation from corporate security.

“Moving forward, employers should make sure that they give users tools to protect themselves, even at home, and that such protection is visible, but not obstructive to their work,” he said.