If you’re heading off on holiday but know you’re the kind of person who needs to know what’s happening all the time, there is one critical mistake you need to avoid. If you find it hard to switch off from your job, or know that you will need to check on your work emails while you’re away, make sure you are doing so safely.
There’s a few very common mistakes people make that could leave them wide open to cyber security threats even while they’re relaxing on holiday. Cybersecurity experts at FLR Spectron are warning that working while abroad could put sensitive business data at serious risk, even if it’s just checking emails from the airport lounge. Last year, research showed that 42% of UK employees check their work emails while away, and 67% feel pressure to stay online during their leave.
If you are part of this cohort, the first thing you need to be aware of is never forwarding company emails to your personal address.
This is because personal accounts don’t have the same protection as company systems, making them easier targets for cybercriminals.
The other big no-no is using public wi-fi such as the ones found in the airport or cafes to access work files.
These networks are often unencrypted and easy for hackers to spoof, meaning your login details could be intercepted in seconds.
Skipping multiple-factor authentication is another way you could accidentally open your company up to security breaches.
It’s common for people to disable two-factor authentication to save time but without this extra layer of security, accounts are far more vulnerable to attack.
Kamran Badhur, Technical Director at FLR Spectron said security breaches aren’t always target attacks.
He said: “They’re often down to someone trying to quickly check their inbox on public Wi-Fi, or forwarding a file to their personal account so they can access it more easily.
“These small shortcuts create real vulnerabilities.”