From protecting personal information during private entertainment activities to protecting sensitive business information, virtual private networks (VPNs) play an important role in ensuring data security. In particular, when using a VPN for business purposes, it has the ability to significantly improve an organization's network security by concealing online data traffic, preventing outside intruders from accessing information. Communications are transmitted across devices. Here are some basic ways you can deploy a VPN to protect your data from cybercriminals.
Working from home 'safe mode'
What makes businesses particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks is the fact that more and more employees are moving to hybrid or “work from home” working modes. When outside of the workplace's secure office infrastructure, employee devices may be exposed to threats when using unprotected public or private Wi-Fi networks.
When using unprotected Wi-Fi, security leaders can accidentally share information with hackers. Cyber criminals can set up a network to position themselves between the user and the connection point. These types of attacks are often called “man-in-the-middle.” Instead of talking directly to the access point, the information is sent to the attacker, who passes it on.
This way, hackers have access to every piece of information a person sends over the Internet: important emails, credit card information, and even security credentials for corporate networks. Once cybercriminals get their hands on that information, they can use it to access employee systems and pretend to be part of the company. Furthermore, they can steal data, use financial information or monitor a company's business activities.
Hot spots are not dangerous
The rise in remote and hybrid work has also led to users connecting more frequently to free and public Wi-Fi. These free hotspots are available at restaurants, hotels, airports, bookstores, and more. But this freedom comes at a price, and few people truly understand the risks associated with public Wi-Fi connections.
Furthermore, hackers can create their own Wi-Fi networks masquerading as legitimate networks. Employees can join hacker networks instead of networks from coffee shops, shopping malls, etc. that they plan to participate in.
Cybercriminals can also take advantage of unsecured Wi-Fi connections to spread malware. When file sharing on unsecured Wi-Fi networks is allowed, they can easily install malware on computers. Some hackers even try to attack the main connection point, placing a window that appears during the connection process, simulating an update to a popular application. When users click on this window, they will not know that they are installing malware that masquerades as a legitimate update.
In such cases, using a reliable VPN is enough, and more importantly, you need to ensure that there is a cybersecurity solution that suits your business goals. This will also help prevent errors on the part of employees, since many of them use their computers for both work and leisure activities.
Separate work and leisure
Post-pandemic, small and medium-sized businesses' ability to offer remote working has doubled for their employees. While this provides flexibility, it also poses data protection challenges for small organizations, especially when they may not have specialized IT staff. Furthermore, this also increases the risk of becoming a target for cybercriminals. According to statistics by 2022, losses due to hacking attacks for small and medium-sized businesses have increased by 64% over the same period last year. Especially for employees who regularly use company computers for entertainment and relaxation purposes.
Using a company computer for entertainment purposes remains one of the popular ways to access a company network. When users search for new program files or movies to download, they are often exposed to a variety of malware, including Trojans, spyware, and backdoors, along with adware. A recent survey has shown that 35% of users encounter Trojan threats while using streaming platforms. When this malware appears on a company's computer, attackers can access the company's network, conduct searches and steal sensitive information, including business development secrets. business and personal data of employees.