How to secure your remote work with Trend Micro

When the pandemic started, most companies have started shifting to a remote workforce. While many find working from home very convenient, it can also expose you to many cybersecurity concerns.

Risks of Working from Home

We’ve gathered the top remote working security risks that everyone should be aware of.

Poor Password Management

Using weak and guessable passwords can make it easier for hackers to access your devices and sensitive information, which can lead to identity theft and other security issues.

Unsecured Home Router

Remote workers may use unsecured Wi-Fi, which allows hackers to get into your home network and steal your information or use your internet connection for malicious purposes. These networks may not have the same security protection as those in an office environment.

Phishing Emails

Working from home can increase the chances of falling into phishing attacks that can steal your information like passwords or other credentials. Remote workers must be vigilant when receiving unsolicited texts and emails and must always verify the requests before giving any personal information.

Unencrypted Remote File Sharing

Sharing files remotely without enough encryption may allow hackers to easily intercept the data being shared. To minimize the risk, it is important to use secure and encrypted file-sharing tools and limit sharing sensitive data to trusted individuals and organizations only.

Reduce Working from Home Risks with Trend Micro

Here's what you can do to maintain a secure work-from-home setup with your Trend Micro Security for Windows PC.

Schedule a Scan

Regularly check your computer's health before or after your shift. Trend Micro allows you to schedule a scan outside your work hours. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Trend Micro, then click Settings.

   

2. Select Security & Tuneup Controls > Scheduled Scans.

   

3. Put a check beside Conduct a scheduled scan of the computer, then choose Set a specific schedule.

   

4. Choose your preferred day, time, and scan type.

   You can also choose Smart Schedule if you want the program to conduct a scan automatically based on your recent computer usage.

5. Click Apply, then click OK to save the changes.

Turn On Anti-phishing

To enable Trend Micro's anti-phishing protection, you can follow these steps:

1. Open Trend Micro, then click Settings .

   

2. Select Internet & E-mail Controls > Spam and emailed files.
3. Put a check beside Filter out unsolicited advertisements and other unwanted email messages.

   

4. Click Apply, then click OK to save the changes.

Turn On Webmail Protection

Using Trend Micro's technology, Email Defender feature scans for fraudulent emails and warns you if it detects something suspicious. Here's how to turn it on:

1. Open your Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.
2. Log in to your Gmail or Outlook web portal. A pop up will appear.
3. Click Protect Your Email Now.

   

4. Read the License Agreement, then select Agree and Turn On. You will see this message to confirm it is ON.

   

Turn On Ransomware Protection

Ransomware is malware that encrypts your files and holds them captive until you pay the ransom. Use the Folder Shield feature to protect your important files and folders from being encrypted.

1. Open Trend Micro, then click the Data tab.

   

2. Click Configure beside Folder Shield.

   

3. Read the introduction, then click OK.
4. On Choose Folders You Want to Protect window, Trend Micro displays the three initial folders to protect: Documents, OneDrive, and Pictures. Click Protect More, then add your important files and folders.

   

5. Click OK, then click Done.

Use a Password Manager

Keeping your login credentials and passwords safe is essential. Trend Micro recommends you use Password Manager to store these sensitive information in one secure location that only you can access. Here’s our guide on how to add it to your favorite browsers: How to enable Password Manager Extension.

TIP: Use Trend Micro's Secure Erase if you need to permanently delete an important file or folder from your computer preventing anyone from recovering the data.

Use a VPN

As remote work becomes the new norm, it is critical to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to secure your online activities and potect your personal information. Trend Micro VPN Proxy One Pro is an excellent VPN solution that offers comprehensive security to protect your online activities and grants access to restricted websites and online services.

Encrypt Your Files Before Sharing

Knowing how to securely share confidential files is important to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. You can do this by encrypting your files so only authorized people can access them. Use a good archive tool like Trend Micro Unarchiver One to create encrypted archives in different formats, which gives you an additional layer of protection while sharing files from home.