Tag: remote

What to Do if Your Phone Is Stolen: 7 Essential Recovery Tips

With the rising cost of phones, comes the rising cases of theft. Like minded  Tech Expert Joe Davies shares tips on how to recover yours if lost.
In the age of expensive smartphones, the rising trend of phone thefts, and the ever-present risk of losing your device, it’s essential to be prepared. Phones now contain much more than just contact lists and photos.
They now also hold sensitive information and act as our connection to the digital world. With TikTok trending hacks and expert advice, we break down how you can improve your chances of finding your stolen phone.
The TikTok Hack: Can It Help You Find Your Stolen Phone?
Recently, a TikTok video went viral, showing a hack for tracking a stolen phone. By using the “Find My” feature from Apple or Google, it demonstrated how you could locate your device if it’s turned on and connected to the internet. This hack, while useful in theory, is not always reliable, particularly if the thief has turned off the phone or disabled location services.
“The viral TikTok hack is a good starting point, but it’s not a complete solution. If your phone is off or disconnected from the internet, you’re left with limited options. Always ensure that the necessary tracking services are enabled before any potential loss.”
That said, while the hack can be part of the solution, here are some other effective strategies to help you recover your stolen device.
7 Tips to Find Your Stolen Phone
  1. Use Find My iPhone (Apple Devices) or Find My Device (Android)
Apple and Android devices come with pre-installed features designed to track your phone. If you have “Find My iPhone” or “Find My Device” enabled, these tools can pinpoint your phone’s last known location. Additionally, they offer the ability to lock your device or erase sensitive data remotely.
“One of the most reliable ways to track a stolen phone is through the manufacturer’s built-in features. Just make sure they’re enabled beforehand, or you’ll miss out on these helpful tools.”
  1. Contact Your Service Provider
If location tracking doesn’t lead to your phone, reach out to your mobile network provider. They may be able to track your device’s IMEI number (a unique identifier for your phone) and lock it remotely to prevent further use.
  1. Remote Lock Your Phone
Whether you’re using an iPhone or Android, remote locking can prevent thieves from accessing your personal data. “Find My iPhone” and “Find My Device” both offer the option to lock your phone remotely, offering some peace of mind in case the phone can’t be recovered right away.
  1. Report the Theft to Local Authorities
While you may not be able to track your phone in real-time, it’s important to file a police report. This not only helps with the recovery process but is necessary for insurance claims. Some local law enforcement agencies have the means to trace stolen phones based on their IMEI numbers.
  1. Check Lost-and-Found Services
Many airports, malls, and other public places have lost-and-found services. If you’ve lost your phone while out and about, make sure to check with them in case someone turned it in.
  1. Use Third-Party Apps
Third-party apps like Lookout or Prey offer additional tracking options and remote control of your phone, such as taking photos of the thief, locking your phone, or erasing your data.
“Third-party apps can be a good backup option, but you need to install them in advance. These apps may not be as effective as the built-in features, but they offer extra layers of security.”
  1. Protect Your Phone with a Case and Screen Protector
While this doesn’t help you track a stolen phone, using a protective case makes your phone less appealing to thieves. A bulky or uniquely designed case can act as a deterrent.
While recovering a stolen phone is not always guaranteed, taking these steps can increase your chances. However, the most effective way to protect yourself is to ensure your phone is equipped with the necessary security settings before any incident occurs. Enable location tracking, use strong passwords, and stay vigilant when in public spaces.
“The best way to prevent a phone from being stolen is to be proactive. Prevention is always better than trying to recover something once it’s gone.”
With these tips and expert advice, you’ll be better prepared to find your phone if it’s stolen or lost. But, ultimately, safeguarding your device starts with taking simple steps to protect it from theft.

Nearly half of Irish jobseekers (47%) would refuse a job offer if there were no hybrid or fully remote working options offered

A new report released today by The Stepstone Group, a leading global jobs platform and parent company of IrishJobs, reveals that hybrid working is a key deal breaker for Irish jobseekers.  Nearly half of jobseekers (47%) would refuse a job offer if there were no hybrid or fully remote working options offered, compared to a global average of 29%. The research also found that 61% of jobseekers would turn down an otherwise attractive job offer from an employer if they received a negative impression during an interview.

Published in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and The Network, a global alliance of more than 70 leading recruitment websites, the new report titled How Work Preferences Are Shifting in the Age of GenAI, is based on survey data from more than 150,000 workforce respondents from 188 countries, including 1,746 respondents in Ireland, and is the fourth instalment in a series, the previous editions having been published in 2014, 2018, and 2021.

Findings also highlight the growing importance of corporate environmental, social and governance policy for Irish jobseekers. Almost one in five (18%) of jobseekers would refuse a job offer from an employer that didn’t have environmental or sustainability initiatives in place. 30% of jobseekers would not accept a job offer from an employer that didn’t offer mental health or wellbeing benefits.

A good work-life balance was the top job preference among Irish professionals, unchanged since the last report was published in 2021. Financial compensation, job security, and the amount of paid time off/holidays were the other most important work preferences in Ireland. Financial compensation has increased by six places since the last survey, indicating the impact of an increased cost of living on the workforce over the past number of years.

Findings also reveal how work preferences change across different age groups. While a good work-life balance is the most important job element for professionals aged 21 and above, interesting job content is the top component for workers under the age of 21. Financial compensation is the second most important work preference for professionals aged 21-50. Good relationships with colleagues overtake monetary considerations as the second most important job preference among workers aged 51 and above.

The research also revealed that when it comes to the balance of power in the employment markets, almost half of jobseekers (48%) believe they have at least some degree of choice in salary offers and can negotiate with employers.

Sam Dooley, Country Director of The Stepstone Group Ireland, responsible for IrishJobs says: “The Irish economy continues to expand, albeit at a more moderate pace, with the rate of unemployment remaining at a record low of 4%. Against this backdrop of near full employment, there continues to be significant competition among employers to attract and retain skilled talent. 

“The insights from our latest Decoding Global Talent 2024 report, published today, provide an important insight for employers into the changing needs and preferences of professionals as they seek to meet their talent needs in this competitive environment.

Amidst such a tight labour market it’s crucial that employers regularly review and update their talent offerings to ensure they meet workers’ expectations. Providing employees with a good work-life balance remains the most important job preferences for professionals and should not be underestimated by employers in their job offering ­– it has consistently ranked as the top job preferences in our research since 2018.

“Our research also highlights the growing importance of hybrid and flexible working in the jobseeker agenda. With nearly half of jobseekers willing to turn down opportunities that do not provide hybrid or fully remote working options, employers should ensure they’re evolving their policies to address these needs and comply with new Government guidelines on the right to request remote work.”

Global Findings

The global findings of the survey reveal that three-quarters of workers around the world believe GenAI will bring some level of disruption to the workplace. But despite uncertain times, they remain confident about their place in the labor market: 57% of them are ready to retrain into new roles to stay ahead in their careers, and 64% feel they hold the upper hand when negotiating for jobs.

The findings of the study underscore the proactive approach workers are taking in response to the potential impacts of GenAI. By prioritizing reskilling and development, they are not only preparing to adapt to technological changes but also expressing confidence in their ability to thrive in an evolving labor market. This adaptability is key to maintaining a robust and resilient workforce in the face of ongoing technological advances.

Globally, workers are also clear about what they don’t want—54% would refuse an attractive job offer if they had a bad experience during the interview process. The importance of the recruitment process is underscored by the fact that a negative experience during recruitment is the second-most-significant dealbreaker in North America and Europe. Additionally, 40% of workers say they won’t work for companies that don’t offer mental health support or that have a perceived negative impact on society.

“In attracting global talent, a personalised, modern recruitment process is every bit as critical as providing a value-based workplace that supports the well-being of employees,” said Sebastian Dettmers, CEO of The Stepstone Group. “These are simply not just ‘nice-to-haves’ anymore.”

Interestingly, the impact of AI disruption is evident in what global talent desires in an ideal workplace. Job security was the most important factor for workers in East Asia and South Asia, particularly among those who perceived AI to have a greater impact on their future work. Learning and development topped the list for the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, highlighting a strong desire to adapt, progress, and upskill in an evolving landscape. The highly competitive labour markets of recent years and the strong bargaining position of workers are reflected in financial compensation being the top priority for North Americans and work-life balance for Europeans.

Download the publication here.
More insights about the survey here.

Leostream to Expand Remote Desktop Flexibility with Windows 365

Leostream Corporation, creator of the world-leading Leostream® Remote Desktop Access Platform, has announced the full integration of the Leostream Platform with Microsoft Windows 365 to provide enhanced flexibility, scalability, and resilience to organizations incorporating cloud and hybrid cloud infrastructure.

Enterprises that rely on Virtual Desktop Infrastructure contend with a myriad of challenges, including capacity limitations due to space constraints within data centers. With potentially hundreds of thousands of user desktop sessions happening at once, the sheer size of these environments often requires moving workloads to the cloud to accommodate demanding use cases. Cloud deployments also permit new flexibility for instance-size updates and nearly limitless restore points to minimize disruptions, especially in the event of VM failures.

However, cloud and hybrid cloud strategies incur increased complexity as resources, applications, and data must be managed and available across on-premises data centers and multiple cloud platforms. The Leostream Platform alleviates this complexity and enables Windows 365 users to access additional resources hosted on-prem, on Azure, AWS, or other cloud providers, with a consistent and unified experience and state-of-the-art authentication and security.

Key to the Leostream Platform’s ability to streamline remote Windows 365 desktop access in heterogeneous environments is its comprehensive protocol support. This delivers seamless communication between disparate systems, regardless of the underlying hosting platform or supported display protocol.

Additional features and advantages of deploying the Leostream Platform with Windows 365:

– Provides a customizable landing page tailored to individual user profiles and locations for a personalized and intuitive user experience.

– Eliminates conventional password-based authentication with stronger Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) to enhance security while simplifying the user login processes, and integrates with Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) providers so organizations can easily transition to SAML authentication while maintaining compatibility with the existing authentication framework.

– Enables direct connections to Windows 365 desktops via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) support and allows the use of cloud-specific display protocols such as NICE DCV and PCoIP for connections to other hosted resources, eliminating incompatibilities that lead to interoperability issues and impede user experience.

– Permits future integration of Windows 365 with other third-party VDI and DaaS Vendors.

“Windows 365 is an essential tool for many organizations, and this integration gives them new options not only for supporting hybrid and remote workforces, but also truly for implementing a multi-cloud or hybrid-cloud strategy alongside their on-premise infrastructure,” said Leostream CEO Karen Gondoly. “The Leostream Platform’s emphasis on access and interoperability of diverse protocols eliminates one of the primary obstacles to transitioning to the cloud by ensuring workers have access to the resources they need and a user experience that won’t hamper their productivity.”

The Leostream Remote Desktop Access Platform for hosted desktops and workstations offers a comprehensive solution for remote access to maintain productivity, control costs, and ensure security with strict authentication and authorization built on zero-trust concepts. Its connection management system eliminates clunky corporate VPNs with an ultra-efficient gateway that gives users access to only the specific resources they have permission to use, automatically, regardless of their location or device. The Leostream Platform shines even in environments that rely on complex, specialty applications like energy and science; large files such as media and entertainment; real-time performance like financial services; and bulletproof network security like government and defense.

Remote and flexible work are the most in-demand non-financial benefits, says new research

Despite ongoing calls from business and government leaders for a reduction in working from home, employees have ranked flexible hours and working location amongst the top benefits they seek from their employers.

Research commissioned by Zoom of 1,000 UK knowledge workers found that flexible hours and scheduling (78%) and flexible work location (69%) were ranked second and fourth as workplace perks. With the cost of living crisis continuing, financial incentives – competitive pay and compensation packages (84%) and competitive benefits (78%) – made up the top four.

The findings, part of Zoom’s Workplace Benefits Preferences Survey in partnership with Morning Consult, found that flexibility is vital for UK knowledge workers. The majority (87%) are more likely to want to work for a company that offers remote or flexible work than one that doesn’t. A similar number (88%) also say that flexible working makes them a happier employee, while three quarters (75%) would consider leaving their current role if they could have increased flexibility elsewhere. Around half (52%) see remote and flexible working as a must-have for their roles and 46% see it as a perk.

Phil Perry, Head of EMEA North at Zoom said, “With large numbers of workers ready to switch jobs if they aren’t offered the flexibility they need, businesses that fail to offer a choice on where and how their teams work could be walking into a trap. At a time when many organisations are under pressure to reduce costs while delivering more, being able to offer benefits like flexible working that require little additional investment is a simple way to keep teams happy and motivated.”

Although flexible working is often seen as the preserve of younger generations, the desire for flexible location is balanced across age groups: 69% of Gen Z/Under 30s ranked this as important, compared to 71% of Millennials, 69% of Gen X and 70% amongst Older Gen X/Over 50s (Boomers). Demand for flexible hours is higher amongst Millennials and older generations, given changing life needs – 69% of Gen Z/Under 30s reported this as important, compared to 80% of Millennials, 78% of Gen X and 78% of Older Gen X/Over 50s (Boomers).

The research also suggests that the classic 9-5 model is no longer the most effective way to work, no matter the stage of life the employee is in. Across generations, 92% prefer working hybrid or remotely, compared to 8% who prefer working in the office full time. This figure remains relatively constant across generations:

·       Gen Z/Under 30s: 90% prefer hybrid/remote and 9% in person

·       Millennials: 93% prefer hybrid/remote and 6% in person

·       Gen X: 92% prefer hybrid/remote and 8% prefer in person

·       Older Gen X/Over 50s (Boomers): 90% prefer hybrid/remote and 9% in person.

Perry continues: “Thanks to the technology platforms available, employers can provide their teams with tools that give them the ability to manage work commitments and connect with their colleagues, when and where works best for them. Creating a working style based on individual preference is a priority across generations, and businesses need to avoid one size fits all approaches as they build out workforce strategies. At Zoom, we’ve invested in AI tools such as Zoom IQ to enable employers to manage, coach and mentor their remote workforce much more effectively.”

Zoom allows organisations of all sizes to implement the best tools to enable a hybrid workforce. Whether employees work in an office, remotely, or a combination of both, Zoom’s all-in-one collaboration platform allows businesses to focus on productivity and efficiency while allowing employees the flexibility to work when, how, and where they are most productive without compromising the quality of work or collaboration.

Methodology

This survey was conducted among 4,000 Knowledge Workers across the following markets: US, UK, DE, AUS, SG. Knowledge workers were defined as clerical workers who have a full-time job in the private sector, in government, or in the non-profit sector.

This survey was fielded among those in the US, UK, DE, AUS, SG from February 3– 24, 2023.  Data in this survey were weighted to match an approximate proportion of knowledge workers per country. The margin of error for this study is +/- 2% for all countries, +/- 3% for the US, UK, and DE, and +/- 4% for AUS and SG. The margin of error is smaller within subgroups.

Technology Your Business Should Be Using If It Has Remote Workers

Bringing on remote workers is an increasingly popular choice for businesses all over the world. Working remotely often provides employees with a better work-life balance, improves their morale, and can even boost productivity in some cases.

However, if you truly want to get the most out of your remote workers and ensure everything goes well, there are some pieces of technology you should be using. With that in mind, this article is going to go over a few technologies that every company working with remote workers should be using.

Time Tracking Technology

Using remote employee time tracking and monitoring technology is a great option when working with remote workers. It helps you to keep tabs on what people are doing, how long they are working, the things they are downloading, websites they are visiting, and more.

While plenty of remote workers will work hard all day without needing to be monitored, others may slack off and get distracted. This technology helps keep your remote team productive and can also give you more information about their performance, strengths, and weaknesses. It can also boost security as you will be able to catch it quickly if someone accidentally accesses something they shouldn’t or sends out the wrong information to the wrong person.

There are different rules in different places about what can be tracked and monitored, so always make sure you are operating within the confines of the law.

Video Conferencing Technology

Another good option is enhancing remote work with video conferencing. One of the major issues with remote work is a lack of communication and these employees feeling disconnected from the team. They cannot attend in-person meetings and don’t see their coworkers every day, and this can feel a little isolating.

By using video conferencing technology, you can ensure your remote workers feel like part of the team and can put a face to the name of the people they work with. This technology allows people from all over the world to join meetings to get to know their bosses and coworkers a little bit better and ensure they don’t miss out on crucial information or updates.

This technology is also quite flexible as most will allow remote workers to join a meeting on their computer, on a tablet, or even on their phone.

Project Management Tools

Lastly, if you have remote workers, it makes sense to use some kind of project management tool. This allows teams to work together on projects, manage tasks, send notes, plan out work that needs to be done, and so much more. They can be used for teams that work together in-office but are especially good for remote teams with members all over the world.

They ensure everyone can stay on the same page and each person knows what they are responsible for doing. In addition to helping teams collaborate, this technology can also allow people to communicate and share files with one another, too.

In conclusion, if your business employs or partners with remote workers, these are pieces of technology you should be using.

New iOS App: Easily Control LG TV With iPhone or iPad

MeisterApps, a leading mobile app development company, announces the release of LG TV Remote Control Plus + app for iOS devices. The revolutionary app is designed to replace traditional remote controls, allowing users to control their LG Smart TVs with their iPhone or iPad.

MeisterApps Releases LG TV Remote Control Plus + App for iOS Devices

The LG TV Remote Control Plus + app provides users with an easy and fast keyboard to facilitate searches and a large touchpad for quick navigation. The app also has an auto-detect feature that recognizes LG Smart TVs on the same Wi-Fi network, making it easier for users to connect and control their TVs. Additionally, users can launch channels and apps directly from the app, switch channels up and down, adjust volume up and down, and mute and unmute their TVs.

The app can be downloaded for free in the Apple App Store. It supports current WebOS LG TVs and older LG Netcast TVs, ensuring that users can control their TVs, regardless of the model. With the LG TV Remote Control Plus + app, users can say goodbye to lost remotes, save time, and enjoy the latest technology. The app also eliminates the need for changing TV remote batteries, making it an eco-friendly choice.

The LG TV Remote app offers an extended range of operation for users thanks to its Wi-Fi connectivity. The iOS app allows for remote control of the TV from a distance, enabling users to operate the TV from other rooms in the house. The enhanced connectivity of the app eliminates the need for users to be in close proximity to the TV, providing a seamless and convenient user experience.

“We are thrilled to announce our latest breakthrough in TV remote control technology that offers unparalleled convenience,” said Elard Tissot van Patot – marketing director for the company.

“The conventional physical remote control has well-known limitations, in that it also lacks a keyboard. With our app, users no longer need to navigate through an on-screen keyboard or painstakingly enter search terms one letter at a time. Instead, they can simply enter the search terms using the keyboard on their mobile device, saving time and effort. It is an incredibly useful app for every LG TV owner. ”

The LG TV Remote Control Plus+ app can be downloaded free of charge from the App Store. Users can upgrade to premium to get all features and remove ads.

Discover more:
www.lgtvremoteapp.com

Download app here:
https://cutt.ly/lg-tv-remote-control-plus-app

TEKenable Downsizes its Office due to Success of Remote Working

TEKenable, the digital services company is moving to a smaller office as a result of the success of remote working.  The company has doubled in the last five years and regularly surveys employees about the culture of the organisation and to ask them about their preferred working model.  TEKenable currently employs over 160 staff and the company continues to grow.

“Prior to the pandemic, 50% of our workforce was already remote across our offices in the UK, Ireland, Hungary, Spain, UAE and the Middle East so many of our teams were set up for the format and flexible schedules were the norm”, explains Nick Connors, Group CEO, TEKenable.  “When the pandemic hit, technology was not a problem and the transition for the entire company proved so seamless that we were ready to change course and gave our employees the choice of in-house or remote working.  Remote working won out and our teams are functioning more efficiently than ever before.  It has become increasingly clear that our employees are happiest and did their best work when they had the flexibility to determine where and when they work best.”

“The requirement for attending an office was constraining growth by requiring recruitment from a specific geographic area and with Dublin in particular which meant dealing with the lack of housing or extended commute times,” adds Peter Rose, Group CTO, TEKenable.  “The biggest advantage is access to talent in places where we do not have offices and the benefit that brings.”

In the recent Great Place to Work assessment, TEKenable was recognised as the 15th Best Medium Workplace in Ireland 2023.  This is TEKenable’s first year to be named as a top Irish workplace which is based on direct feedback from employees.

“We as a company really value diversity and a people-first culture,” concludes Nick. “Our values are a part of that foundation, and things like having trust in your employees and knowing that they will make decisions that are the best balance for their life and job maximising both is part of that.”

The new, smaller office will be used as ‘conversation space’ for meetings, collaboration and events.

HP Anyware and IMSCAD partner to deliver remote working solution for graphical applications

IMSCAD adds HP Anyware, the enterprise software that provides secured access to digital workspaces, to their portfolio of Remote Work Solutions for Graphics-Intensive Applications.  HP Anyware allows users and teams to be flexible and access their digital workspaces from virtually any device, in any location with a network connection.

IMSCAD is excited to announce a new global collaboration with HP via the HP Anyware* solution, a move that reinforces their place at the forefront of remote work solutions for graphics- intensive applications. The collaboration combines IMSCAD’s world leading expertise for deploying and supporting graphical applications and workflows, to facilitate User and Enterprise Mobility with HP Anyware’s technology, which leverages the PC-over-IP (PColP®) protocol to stream highly interactive desktop displays between almost any host (cloud, data center, edge, workstation) and end-user device (PC, Mac®, laptop or tablet) without any data ever leaving the safety of the customer’s network.

PCoIP transmits AES256-encrypted image pixels to the client device, thus keeping business information safe in the data center. Users can enjoy lossless image quality and near-perfect text clarity from the PCoIP, which almost mirrors the user experience of working at a desktop or workstation under your desk.

IMSCAD CEO Adam Jull states, ‘’We are excited about HP Anyware as it provides customers with a secured, high performance solution running on their existing workstations. One step before VDI and easy to use. Remote working done!’’

About HP Anyware

HP Anyware is the enterprise software that IT needs to keep people and teams productive with secure access to their digital workspaces from any mix of infrastructure (cloud, data center, edge, workstation) and end-user device (PC, Mac, laptop, tablet, thin and zero client), anywhere. Built on the same technology that won both Teradici and HP Engineering Emmys in 2020, HP Anyware future-proofs deployments for ever-evolving infrastructure, network, and hybrid workforce demands. HP Anyware also includes Anyware Manager, a connection management plane for IT Administrators to simplify the management of secure user access to desktops. For more information, visit: www.hp.com/anyware.

IMSCAD are a UK business with a global customer base, working to assist Resellers and their Customers when deploying remote solutions for graphics-intensive applications utilising NVIDIA vGPU, with over 700 successful deployments, IMSDCAD have the experience and knowledge base to ensure better than local workstation performance and ultimate user experience

IMSCAD are the global leader in deploying and supporting remote work solutions for graphics-intensive applications. IMSCAD ‘s team of specialist’s guides customers through an end-to-end solution, including Pre Sales, Scoping, Deployment, Optimisation and Ongoing Support to ensure HP Anyware remote solutions deliver on productivity and business continuity objectives, while also achieving performance at scale.

IMSCAD offer the following:

 

  • ’48 hours demo for free’ – IMSCAD host and support customers that want to test drive the technology. Your data, your users and the Applications you require. 
  • Specialist Resources – leverage our expertise and years of experience for delivering remote solutions for graphics intensive applications  
  • Realise the Benefits – help firms realise the benefits of an HP Anyware, Remote Solution, such as, IP security, flexibility, anywhere access and robust home-working solutions to increase your teams productivity.   
  • User Acceptance – IMSCAD specialises in delivering the performance designers need, understanding their workflows and application usage.  
  • Comprehensive Support – from pre-sales, project scoping and advice on infrastructure through to deployment, optimization, and ongoing support for HP Anyware solutions.

Remote workers suffer ‘digital anxiety’ over cyber security fears.

Working from home has spiked since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March of 2020. This effort to reduce health risks may have limited the spread of the virus, but according to a new analysis by cyber security provider F-Secure, it may also have helped increase digital anxiety for those working remotely.

In a recent survey, 67% of internet users who work from home reported they increasingly worry about their online security and privacy even if nothing is wrong, compared to 58% of other users.

Senior Lecturer in Cyberpsychology at Nottingham Trent University Dr. Lee Hadlington, who’s research interests include employees’ adherence to workplace cyber security practices, said it makes sense that people’s sudden shift to telecommuting increased their anxieties about online threats.

“It is not surprising that individuals have started to worry more about cyber security, particularly when working from home. Many individuals were thrust into the ‘new normal’ of home working with very little preparation, training, or equipment. Let’s not forget, for most individuals in a workplace environment, cyber security is generally a second thought, and is usually something that is seen as the responsibility of someone else in the company. This, coupled with the fact that many home workers have less than perfect home working environments (e.g. desks in busy parts of the house, limited/poor internet connection, limited working knowledge of internet-based technology), means that these cyber security fears could be symptomatic of a combination of factors,” he said.

While worries about online security and privacy were prevalent among all survey respondents, remote workers reported elevated concerns about a myriad of issues, including:

  • 65% of those who work from home said the internet is becoming a more dangerous place, compared to 54% of other respondents.

  • 63% of remote workers said concerns about data privacy have changed how they use the internet, compared to 48% of other respondents.

  • 71% of remote workers said they worry that new internet connected devices—such as wearables and connected home appliances—could lead to a violation of their privacy, compared to 64% of non-remote workers.

  • 70% of remote workers felt increasingly uncomfortable connecting to public WiFi due to security risks compared to 63% of other respondents.

“Working from home could also have meant that individuals may have had more time to focus on other aspects of their working life and spent more time engaging in self-reflection and aspects of self-improvement; this could have included a re-assessment of cyber risks in their daily lives. The pandemic also meant people were isolated, with many turned to the one thing they did have access to – the Internet. Of course, spending more time engaged in one activity could lead to an increase in perceptions of risk, particularly when people are being subjected to negative news stories about cyber security related issues,” Dr. Hadlington explained.

According to F-Secure Security Consultant Tom Gaffney, managing security while working remotely takes technical security measures that protect data and devices, but also steps to keep people’s personal and professional lives separate.

“Steps everyone can take to secure themselves and their privacy when they work from home include updating their devices and software, ensuring their personal devices have security software installed, and some other basic infosec measures,” said Gaffney. “But keeping your personal and professional online activities separate from one another may be as important as any of these tips. Restricting what sort of things you do on each device and during which times can be an essential way to ease digital anxiety.”

To find out more about how reduce digital anxiety when working from home, check out https://blog.f-secure.com/digital-anxiety/.