As remote work and connecting while traveling has become the norm, mobile device security responsibilities have also increased.
We take our smartphones, tablets and laptops to airports, cafes and other public places, so the threat of a cyber attack targeting our devices is constant. However, being on the move, there are some best practices to consider to improve mobile device security, screen privacy and overall digital hygiene.
In the KnowBe4 series “The Inside Man,” Erica Walker, the CFO for Khromacom, is the prime example of users within organizations who have learned cybersecurity best practices from their organization's training but are reluctant to use it because they believe it reduces productivity or is too troublesome to use.
However, it's Mark Shepherd who helps protect Erica in an "IT ride-along" to a conference and ensures Erica is using the travel, mobile and remote tools properly and securely to reduce the risk of an attack against her organization.
Keep Your Devices Secure
A key element of traveling securely is to keep your devices where you can see them and constantly on your person as possible. Mark takes his laptop with him when he gets some tea for Erica and "Mr. Roundtree”, aka Maurice, as he attempts to socially engineer Erica. Even though they may be trusted individuals, Mark recognizes that all devices should be password protected or biometric (fingerprint/facial recognition) protected with strong and unique passwords. Update operating systems and applications to reduce the risk of exploits for cybercriminals to use easily.
As seen within Episode 9 of Season 1, when Mark is to meet Maurice, he reaches out to Deathrage, a hacker colleague, to help find a way to gain access to Maurice’s phone. Deathrage discovers that Maurice has not updated their “Cats” game. DeathRage, knowing of a current vulnerability in the game, uses it to gain access without Maurice knowing about it and steal the information that Mark needs.
While your phone will not always be hacked because an app is out of date, it does increase the risk that it could be exploited, so always keep the operating system and apps up to date to avoid this potential attack vector being available for cybercriminals to leverage your phone and steal data.
Screen Privacy Protectors
Especially in the post-COVID world and with travel increased, it's surprising that many users are not using a privacy screen to reduce the risk of shoulder surfing. Potential eavesdroppers can steal information from you by looking at what you are doing on the screen, either next to you, above you, or behind you. A good inexpensive remedy is a privacy screen protector that easily clips to your laptop monitor or sticks to your screen. It limits the viewing angle of your screen unless you are looking directly into it, as people sitting beside or standing behind cannot read the display. It can save you from accidental data leaks, especially if reading confidential or sensitive information in public places.
Prioritize Mobile Device Security
Since remote work and travel have become part of our lives, robust mobile device security is necessary. Keep your mobile device up to date and employ privacy screen guards to protect data from unauthorized people. Stay safe in this digital age and be proactive and aware! Keep yourself safe and worry-free while you work and travel.
There’s still time to download our 2024 kit of Cybersecurity Awareness Month resources, themed to the hit series “The Inside Man.” Check it out below!
Here's what you'll get:
