COVID-19 and Computer Security, Part 1: Telecommuting Risks

companies that want employees to work remotely due to the coronavirus must shore up securityThe United States Office of Personnel Management last week urged agencies to prepare to allow federal employees to telework -- that is, work remotely.This came on the heels of the Department of Homeland Security closing its facilities in Washington state, after learning an employee had visited the Life Care facility in the city of Kirkland, which is ground zero for the state's COVID-19 outbreak.

Federal employees were told to self-quarantine for two weeks, and the DHS building is being disinfected.
It isn't just the federal government that is allowing employees to telework or telecommute. Seattle companies including Amazon, Google, Facebook and others are trying to keep workers safe by letting them do their jobs from home.
Coronavirus fears have shut down schools and businesses in the Evergreen State, and public health officials in King County last week recommended allowing employees in the region to stay home.
Across the country firms already have started allowing employees to work remotely or are considering doing so. Similar measures to those in Washington are being considered in New York and other states. The question is whether these steps are really necessary and whether they could present other serious problems.
"Move your operations out to home offices on the fly. What could go wrong, besides everything?" quipped Jim Purtilo, associate professor in the computer science department at the University of Maryland.
"Shops that might be careful about security practices at the office will find their assurances go out the window once some sudden decision flips activity out into the wild," he told TechNewsWorld.
"The risks -- including insecure WiFi connections; open printer ports; browsers with all manner of unvetted plug-ins, trackers or social media feeds; document shares on unprotected cloud folders; and more -- will give us fits," Purtilo added.
This week TechNewsWorld spoke with numerous cybersecurity experts to get tips on how to stay safe while staying healthy.

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