--- title: Cyber Security tips during COVID-19 description: Staff working from home during COVID-19 bring up risk factors in regards to cybersecurity, especially if those staff members are using their own devices. image: https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/hubfs/woman-smiling-while-using-laptop-3769717.jpg --- [![Strategic Group](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/hs-fs/hubfs/SGRP%20Logo%20-%20Inverted%20white.png?width=2951&name=SGRP%20Logo%20-%20Inverted%20white.png "Strategic Group")](https://www.strategicgroup.net.au) - [Home](https://www.strategicgroup.net.au/) - [About](https://strategicgroup.net.au/about/) - [Careers](https://strategicgroup.net.au/careers/) - [Services](https://strategicgroup.net.au/services/) - [IT Support & HelpDesk](https://strategicgroup.net.au/it-support-helpdesk/) - [Cloud Computing](https://strategicgroup.net.au/cloud-computing/) - [Private Cloud](https://info.strategicgroup.net.au/vault-demo) - [Public Cloud](https://strategicgroup.net.au/public-cloud-computing/) - [Cyber Security](https://strategicgroup.net.au/cyber-security/) - [Security & Risk Audit](https://info.strategicgroup.net.au/cyber-security-audit) - [Staff Training](https://info.strategicgroup.net.au/email-security-training) - [Telecommunications](https://strategicgroup.net.au/unified-communications/) - [Unified Communications](https://strategicgroup.net.au/unified-communications/) - [Microsoft Teams Calling](https://strategicgroup.net.au/ms-teams-calling/) - [Strategy & Planning](https://info.strategicgroup.net.au/virtual-cio) - [IT Consulting](https://info.strategicgroup.net.au/virtual-cio) - [Business Continuity Planning](https://info.strategicgroup.net.au/business-continuity) - [Disaster Recovery Planning](https://strategicgroup.net.au/disaster-recovery/) - [Device as a Service](https://info.strategicgroup.net.au/strategic-group-device-as-a-service) - [IT Projects](https://strategicgroup.net.au/it-project-services/) - [On-site & Hybrid Servers](https://www.strategicgroup.net.au/on-site-servers/) - [Case Studies](https://strategicgroup.net.au/case-studies/) - [Insights](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/) - [Blog](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/) - [Resources](https://strategicgroup.net.au/resources/) - [Contact](https://strategicgroup.net.au/contact/) - [1300 857 048](tel:1300857048) ![Strategic Group Blog](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/hs-fs/hubfs/apple-computer-desk-96858.jpg?width=2000&name=apple-computer-desk-96858.jpg "Strategic Group Blog") # Strategic Group Blog #### Everything you need to know about IT and technology #### [Tips](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/tips) [Security](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/security) # [Cyber Security tips during COVID-19](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/cyber-security-tips-during-covid-19) ![close](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2432204/AK-UI%20Builder/close-button.svg) ### Categories - [News (76)](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/news) - [Tips (71)](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/tips) - [Security (44)](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/security) - [Productivity (13)](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/productivity) - [Technology (7)](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/technology) - [AI (5)](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/ai) - [Community (2)](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/community) - [Insider (1)](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/insider) - [Uncategorised (1)](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/uncategorised) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Popular Stories [The Essential 8 Guidelines for Business: What You Need to Know](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/the-essential-8-guidelines-for-business-what-you-need-to-know) Mar 18, 2025 [Top tech gifts to buy this Christmas](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/top-tech-gifts-to-buy-this-christmas-0-1-0) Dec 11, 2024 [Social Engineering Red Flags - What to look out for](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/social-engineering-red-flags-what-to-look-out-for) Oct 21, 2022 [Embracing AI in the workplace in 2025](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/embracing-ai-in-the-workplace-in-2025) Mar 24, 2025 [How much is IT costing your business?](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/how-much-is-it-costing-your-business) Jul 10, 2018 Categories | Subscribe | Populars - - - - Written by Emily Gam on March 23, 2020 COVID-19 has caused the shutdown of bars, clubs and cafes across the country and has forced many workers to start working from home. While working from home isn’t a new idea and has been implemented by many companies as part of their flexible working policies for some time, the sheer number of people working from home is unprecedented. A large number of staff working from home can bring up some risk factors in regards to cyber security, especially if those staff members are using their own PCs and laptops. #### **Cyber Security tips for working from home** It’s important to keep the below in mind when directing your staff to work from home: **WiFi:** Make sure that the WiFi connection your staff are using is secured with a password and they are not using a public connection. This is because unsecured and public wifi are prime spots for hackers to spy on internet traffic and collect confidential information. **VPN access**: Ensure you have secure VPN access to your network for employees, this helps protect the security of the employee’s devices and will include Unified Threat Management (UTM) protection. **Update:** If employees are using their own devices, make sure they are up to date. Devices running old versions of their operating system can create a giant security gap as they are not running the latest version and may have known security flaws. **Passwords**: Remind staff of good password policies, such as creating secure passwords and not using the same password for multiple accounts **Training**: Continue or implement cyber security training with your staff to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to identify potential scams or fraudulent emails. #### **COVID-19 Scams** Unfortunately whenever there is a crisis or large media event, scammers see an opportunity to target people who may be afraid or unsure. It’s an unfortunate truth and means we need to be extra vigilant with the COVID-19 crisis unfolding. | ![COVID-19 SMS Scam](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/hs-fs/hubfs/covid-phishing-text-data.png?width=480&name=covid-phishing-text-data.png) | | --- | | SMS scam currently circulating | **SMS Scams:** There has been reports of different SMS scams circulating in Australia that are pretending to be from the Government and trying to get you to click malicious links. **Email Scams:** There are emails circulating with malicious attachments claiming that the recipient is eligible for a ‘working from home payment’, again these are scam emails trying to get you to download malicious software onto your computer. | ![COVID-19 Email Scam](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/hs-fs/hubfs/ETgrouYUYAAqky0.png?width=360&name=ETgrouYUYAAqky0.png) | | --- | | Email scam currently circulating | These scams are abhorrent  especially at times like these but it’s important to remember that scammers use [social engineering](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/what-is-social-engineering) tactics to trick their victims and with COVID-19 causing panic and uncertainty this is a prime time for them to strike. It’s important to always be [training your staff members](https://info.strategicgroup.net.au/email-security-training) so they have the knowledge to pick out these scams as they are often the last line of defence against hackers.   [![Free User Phishing Test](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/1726473/b18ee902-c230-41ff-bea9-e3c11b89ba74.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/1726473/b18ee902-c230-41ff-bea9-e3c11b89ba74) ![Subscribe](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2432204/99%20Template%20Pack/Background%20Images/message.svg "Subscribe") ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Let Us Know What You Thought about this Post. Put your Comment Below. ### You may also like: [Tips](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/tips) [Security](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/security) [Technology](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/technology) ## [The Essential 8 Guidelines for Business: What You Need to Know](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/the-essential-8-guidelines-for-business-what-you-need-to-know) In today's digital age, cyber threats are an ever-present danger for businesses of all sizes. In response, the Australia... [Tips](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/tips) [Security](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/topic/security) ## [No Place Like Home: Ensuring Cybersecurity for SMEs in the Remote Work Revolution](https://blog.strategicgroup.net.au/no-place-like-home-ensuring-cybersecurity-for-smes-in-the-remote-work-revolution) The rise of remote work in today's business environment creates unique opportunities, but also significant challenges fo... 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