Workers carrying out their work in an increasingly digital world are exposed to many dangers. By having to work on the Internet, they have to face Phishing attacks, ransomware, viruses and other types of malware. The security teams of the companies have to put all the possible security measures so that these employees can work safely. However, these workers also have to be aware of the security of their organization and report a suspicious incident. In this article we are going to see how workers believe they are protected with company devices.
The Menlo Security investigation
Research by Menlo Security has revealed the biggest cybersecurity risks faced by workers and businesses during the holiday shopping season. The survey interviewed 2,000 people working in the United States and the United Kingdom. Here it is observed that workers are concerned about threats, take steps to mitigate them but also have a false confidence in their security posture.
Today it is more dangerous than ever for corporate devices and networks. The reason is that hybrid work models greatly blur the boundaries between work and our home. In this regard, more than half of the respondents commented that they did non-work-related tasks, such as, for example, shopping online on company devices.
About 64% of workers surveyed were doing more Christmas shopping online in 2021 compared to previous years. In addition, almost half of the respondents reported that they bought gifts using a work device such as a laptop or smartphone. Here are some tips for buying insurance on the Internet.
Workers and company devices
80% of employees are aware of cybersecurity risks and report being quite concerned about the theft of their personal data when shopping online. A worrying fact is that the 60% of people yet they think they are protected of the computer attacks if they use a company device.
According to Mark Guntrip, senior director of cybersecurity strategy at Menlo Security, workers are increasingly aware of the dangers that lurk while browsing the Internet. However, he says it is a false sense of security when using corporate devices. Furthermore, it adds that they are inadvertently exposing their corporate networks to a host of security breaches.
The survey also revealed that more than 70% spend one or more hours using a browser on a daily basis during work. Also in an industry report by Forrester and Google it was found that workers spend 75% of their day working on a web browser or attending virtual meetings. This makes them more susceptible to attack by hackers.
Threats and measures to protect yourself
Workers are increasingly aware of the dangers and are trying to inform themselves. Regarding online threats, malware has been the most recognized by those surveyed, in the United Kingdom with 81%, and in the United States with 76%. On the other hand, they are also concerned about ransomware with 61% and credential phishing with just over 40%. A worrying fact is that approximately just over 12% were unfamiliar with any of these cyberattack methods.
The most popular protection measure for respondents was strong passwords with almost 75%. In addition, they commented that 58% to protect themselves when they buy online they use antivirus software. Also other good practices they use are:
- Buy only on well-known websites.
- Check URLs and emails for suspicious characters.
- Check that the padlock appears next to a URL to make sure it uses HTTPS. Although this does not mean that this website is secure, but that the connection to said website is secure.
- Have a dedicated card for Internet purchases.
Regarding age, it is the youngest workers in the 18 to 24 age group who most frequently reported an increase in Christmas shopping, this season with an average of 77%. As age increases, this percentage decreases significantly and in those over 65 it does not exceed 40%. Lastly, younger people are also often more attuned to cyber threats, also reporting that they have noticed an increase in scams and fraudulent messages.
