Penn Community Bank is dedicated to assisting its customers in protecting their private information every day.
Now, with more Americans than ever working remotely due to the Coronavirus outbreak, we wanted to share some tips for protecting your devices and personal information as youโre getting your work-at-home systems set up.
- Start withย cybersecurity basics.ย Keep your security software up to date. Use passwords on all your devices and apps. Make sure the passwords are long, strong and unique: at least 12 characters that are a mix of numbers, symbols and capital and lowercase letters.
- Secure your home network.ย Start with your router. Turn on encryption (WPA2 or WPA3). Encryption scrambles information sent over your network so outsiders canโt read it. WPA2 and WPA3 are the most up-to-date encryption standards to protect information sent over a wireless network. No WPA3 or WPA2 options on your router? Try updating your router software, then check again to see if WPA2 or WPA3 are available. If not, consider replacing your router. For more guidance, readย Securing Your Wireless Network andย Secure Remote Access.
- Keep an eye on your laptop.ย If youโre using a laptop, make sure it is password-protected, locked and secure. Never leave it unattended โ like in a vehicle or at a public charging station.
- Securely store sensitive files.ย When thereโs a legitimate business need to transfer confidential information from office to home, keep it out of sight and under lock and key. If you donโt have a file cabinet at home, use a locked room. For more tips, read aboutย physical security.
- Dispose of sensitive data securely.ย Donโt just throw it in the trash or recycling bin. Shred it. Paperwork you no longer need can be treasure to identity thieves if it includes personal information about customers or employees.
- Follow your employerโs security practices.ย Your home is now an extension of your office. So, follow the protocols that your employer has implemented.
Want to learn more? Visit www.consumer.ftc.gov.
