By: James O鈥橰ell

The number听of employees working from home听has increased,听and it is听because of听this growth that听focusing听on personal security听has听become ever more prevalent. Our lives are connected to the internet, for better or for worse,听and it is important to keep your information safe.听The following听technologies听can be听used听to help minimize any risks听employees or companies may face.

VPNs:

What are VPNs?

Virtual Private Networks (VPN) create an end-to-end encryption to a remote server that can help keep prying eyes out of your communications, or at least keep听your communications听anonymous. It can also give you access to resources you鈥檇 normally only have access to on your company鈥檚 own network.

How do VPNs help you?

VPNs can help keep you听anonymous.听When you connect to a remote server,听VPNs听will see the VPN鈥檚 IP Address and not yours.听VPNs听aren鈥檛 foolproof but they are one听of many听tools听to help keep you from being tracked online. For example, the VPN is only as good as the party providing it.听If you can鈥檛 trust the听provider, then you can鈥檛 be sure your communications are going to remain private.听It can be very useful when using an untrusted public wireless network. This will encrypt your data and make sure no one on the network is trying to compromise your data.

What are some weaknesses of VPNs?

Any traffic intercepted between the VPN鈥檚 outward facing server and the target server can still be intercepted.

Password Managers:

What are Password Managers?

Passwords are a big weakness for security. You should never use the same password for multiple accounts but keeping track of them all becomes an even bigger liability. That鈥檚 where password managers come in. They keep track of your听passwords,听so you have a centralized location to find them, usually secured in some way (sometimes by another password).

How do Password Managers help you?

Another great feature is auto-generating passwords.听Password Managers can听create randomized passwords for you and input them into the browser when you get听to听the desired website.

What are some weaknesses of Password Managers?

The inherent weakness in听a password manager is that it does create a centralized location that includes听all听your credentials. A break-in to this manager听can听create a vulnerability to every account you hold. It creates an Achilles heel in your security, but it may be worth the risk.

Virtual Machines:

What are Virtual Machines?

Virtual Machines (VM) are virtual computers that run on your local machine.听They generally require a copy of an operating system听to run.

How do VMs help you?

VMs听have many uses beyond security, such as running programs not designed for the host machine鈥檚 operating system. They听help听keep whatever听you听are doing separate from your local machine听and听if听the VM is compromised, the intruder only has access to what鈥檚 on the VM, not the rest of your computer. Usually, as far as the outside world is concerned, the VM is just a standalone machine (although there may be some tells it鈥檚 a VM, such as driver names). One听item听they are very good at is using a VPN that lacks internet access. This way you can access the VPN鈥檚 resources on the VM but still have an internet connection on your听host听machine.

What are some weaknesses of VMs?

The main weakness of VMs comes听from the overhead on the system it鈥檚 running on. If the machine you have doesn鈥檛 have a lot of available听RAM,听having a VM听is probably not an option for you. Also,听VMs听have all the same inherent vulnerabilities听of the听operating system it is running听on.听For example, if听your听Windows听machine听has a vulnerability, your VM is also vulnerable for exploitation.

Two-Factor Authentication:

What is听Two-Factor Authentication?

Many platforms have what听is known as听Two鈥�Factor Authentication. This usually combines something you know (usually a username and password) with something you have (usually a smartphone or other device). For example, you attempt to log into a service with your username and password. You are听then听prompted for a code texted to you on your mobile device. This means you must have both your credentials and your device, thus being听two-factor. It is heavily recommended to use听Two-Factor Authentication wherever you can.

How can听Two-Factor Authentication help you?

Two-Factor听Authentication helps keep your accounts/devices secure听by making sure听you听not only have the credentials for access, but that you also possess听the proper qualifications听required for听said听access.听If your username/password are听compromised, your account or device will remain secure because the intruder will not have the second factor.

What are some weaknesses of听Two-Factor Authentication?

The primary weakness of听Two鈥�Factor听Authentication听is听鈥�man in the middle鈥�听attacks. If your听second听factor provides a pin when logging in and you type the pin in, your client could听be affected by a virus that reports the pin to a听third听party and then uses the pin to log into your account.听This is a rare occurrence and something that should not discourage you from using听Two-Factor Authentication.

These are just a few of the tools available to help keep you secure. There are many other measures you can take, too many to name here. The biggest piece of advice is to听be听skeptical of everything, including your security technology. Always research any product you install to ensure it鈥檚 not just another attempt to violate your security.听This way you know you can trust what you are using to protect yourself, your company, and your employees.