Be Vigilant to the Rise in Phishing Scams

We have always been an advocate of IT security and data protection. And now, the COVID-19 crisis has created a nirvana-like world for many scammers who see it as an opportunity to profit. In March the City of London Police reported a 400% increase in scams related to COVID-19 cashing in on people’s fears and concerns.

With more of us working from home there is even more reliance on technology, be that for virtual meetings (business and social) or a reliance on the internet to link us to our work colleagues for information and news.

Now more than ever, you are your own best security. If anything doesn’t look genuine, just pause. If you’re still not sure, check. If you can’t’ check, don’t click, don’t download, don’t open attachments, don’t respond in any way.

We have a couple of articles on our blog that will be helpful in spotting phishing scams and securing your data, simply by managing your passwords better. They will only take a couple of minutes to read but could make a huge difference to your business or financial future.

After COVID-19 restrictions are eased, it may be that home working is going to remain more common.  So here’s a couple of more tips that might be useful that involve no technology whatsoever

• don’t let your children use your work devices – they may accidentally infect them and edit or delete information
• make sure your screen is not visible through windows – use a privacy screen or simply close blinds or curtains

The National Cyber Security Centre website offers really some helpful resources on keeping cyber secure for your business, your employees and your family too.

You are not on your own during this crisis. If you need support deciphering all the business support and what you may be eligible for; if IT is getting a bit too much of a worry and your time would be better spent elsewhere; or if you need payroll or HR guidance, all our teams are continuing to provide assistance.