Menu
As a freelancer or digital nomad, you have all the responsibilities of keeping client and customer data safe, with none of the IT backup that conventional employees can count on. That means all the small decisions that compound every day, from your choice of password to how you share files and from where, can have major consequences down the line.
The good news is that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel or take an advanced cybersecurity course to keep client data and your reputation safe. Instead, follow these five practical tips.
Advertisment
As a responsible person who claims they can work effectively without oversight, you can’t afford beginner mistakes like reusing passwords for multiple accounts. And yes, data breaches continue to happen even though professionals who should know better keep neglecting this.
When available, it’s best to secure account access with passkeys. The cryptographic key created when setting up a passkey only works with a counterpart on the domain where you registered the account, so phishing becomes useless.
When passwords are still necessary, use strong and unique ones for each account and secure them with MFA. That said, your identity is just as vital as your passwords, and often more difficult to protect. You can strengthen your defenses around your digital presence with Coveron discount codes for a much lower cost.
Cutting-edge account protection isn’t helpful if your work laptop and smartphone are easily compromised. Shoring up their defenses is a must.
Start by enabling biometric access like Face ID or Windows Hello and set them to kick in after a minimum idle time. Encrypt your disk drives and make sure everything from the OS to the programs and anti-malware you use is being updated automatically and running its latest version.
Ideally, you’ll want to have separate work and personal laptops so that compromises affecting one don’t impact the other. If that’s impractical, create a separate business profile with separate accounts, browser settings, etc., so work and personal environments don’t mix.
Advertisment
You’d think that the internet’s transition to HTTPS would have made public Wi-Fi safer to use. And while it’s true that it’s less risky now than it was a decade ago, attackers can still exploit public Wi-Fi in other creative ways.
For example, fake captive portals have become a favorite means of account theft and malware injection. Also, the fact that someone might use session hijacking to take over accounts that clients entrusted to you is highly unsettling.
Since public Wi-Fi isn’t the most secure option, using mobile data for your connectivity needs is a far better choice. However, there are limitations to using your mobile data, and it isn’t always convenient. If you must connect to public Wi-Fi, do so while having a VPN on. These handy tools encrypt your connection and make it unreadable by bad actors ready to intercept your data.
Competent freelancers regularly work with highly sensitive information. Maybe a client entrusted you with administering a database full of users’ medical information. Or, you’re designing a campaign for a product that has to remain top secret until launch. In situations like these, secure file sharing is non-negotiable.
First of all, ditch email attachments and use industry-standard cloud storage that encrypts files at rest and in transit. Even then, it’s important to generate private links so that only the intended recipient has file access. Have these links expire once the project is over, just in case.
Advertisment
Many freelancers are essentially small business owners, meaning they have to advertise their services online to attract clients. In the age of AI, this necessary openness is also a major vulnerability to keep in mind.
It’s become trivial to convincingly impersonate recruiters, prospective clients, or coworkers. Deepfake voice messages and videos also keep getting harder to spot, especially since working remotely means you don’t get to know clients and colleagues as well.
Luckily, social engineering still follows patterns that should register on your BS radar. Messages are urgent and either promise unrealistic opportunities or ask you to do suspicious things like share account credentials or pay for supplies. Always take it slow, ask probing questions, and verify senders’ identities and intentions through other channels.
Advertisment
Pin it for later!
If you found this post useful you might like to read these post about Graphic Design Inspiration.
Advertisment
If you like this post share it on your social media!
Advertisment
Want to make your Business Grow with Creative design?
Advertisment
Advertisment
