Working from home has presented Americans (and people all over the world) with a new set of cybersecurity issues. When we’re working at the office, it’s a bit easier to maintain data security and privacy with our online activities. Some offices are equipped with extra safety measures that protect both the business and the employees’ data. But with so many people working remotely now, data is accessible to would-be cyber criminals in new ways.
Doing our jobs from home has its ups and downs, pros and cons. While our world is far more connected and digitized than ever before, it also means there’s more communication and there are more transactions going on online. This creates a new age of accessibility in our online information, meaning that data is a little bit more accessible than it used to be. Apparently, remote workers have been the source of at least 20% of cybersecurity incidents in 2020.
Granted, there’s been a lot to worry about this year with an election and a global pandemic occurring. People may not be as worried about sharing passwords, or safe guarding their online activity the way they used to. Ask almost anyone: have you shared your password or passwords before? Likely, the answer to the question will be a quick yes, said without too much hesitation.
Over 50% of American adults have experienced their personal data being hacked, shared, or compromised in one way or another. In the U.K., that number is even higher at 74%. Many people have changed the way they shop, utilizing online platforms and apps at a much higher rate. With that in mind, it makes sense to correlate the high number of people who have experienced their data being compromised at one point or another in recent times.
In any case, the last few years have seen a high volume of data breaches. For a list of all the data breaches in 2020, ZDNET recently published a list of the biggest and baddest data breaches of the year. Some names are very familiar, including household brand names like Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, Canon, and more.
Due to the increase in cybersecurity issues as well as data breaches themselves, the online school Grand Canyon University created a tool that will help Americans double check on the security of their online data. Depending on your digital whereabouts, this tool can help you calculate the likelihood your personal information has been compromised, hacked, or stolen.
Unsure if you might have had your data compromised? Use this tool to find out. And maybe, in 2021, make your passwords a little more difficult than “123456”.
