A new survey of North American business travelers was commissioned by . world travel protectionfound that companies may not be doing enough to prevent their employees from becoming targets of cyberattacks.
Opinium research reveals that only about one-third of companies require travelers to implement basic cybersecurity measures, including:
- Ensuring two-way authentication on devices – US, 36 percent. Canada, 36%
- VPN use – US, 30 percent. Canada, 32%
- Install antivirus software on devices while traveling – US, 32 percent. Canada, 32 per cent;
Only a quarter of respondents (US – 28%; Canada – 24%) said their company required them to take a training course on how to improve cybersecurity.
Additionally, less than one-third of business travelers say their company has asked them to avoid unsecured Wi-Fi networks (US – 32 percent; Canada – 28 percent). Use a laptop screen protector when working in public (US – 28%, Canada – 20%). Or, make sure all files except those necessary for travel are removed from the laptop (US – 20%, Canada – 14%).
One in 10 say their organization does not require them to do any cybersecurity measures (US – 8%; Canada – 10%).
Problems with no protection
Frank Harrison, Americas regional security director for World Travel Protection, said: “This data is concerning because cybercrime poses a significant risk to businesses, disrupting their operations, damaging their reputations, and potentially exposing them to legal action if they fail.” . ”
He also pointed out that the number of malware attacks worldwide is expected to reach 5.5 billion by 2022 and continue to rise, with business travelers carrying sensitive corporate information and leaving their laptops and mobile devices in crowded public spaces. It added that it is an easy target for exploitation because of its frequent use in locations. As an airport. Mobile His devices are prime targets for attacks, so business travelers need to be especially careful if they lose their devices.
“Threat actors now have the ability to identify and target mobile devices, deliver malicious code to the device, access the device and track its location, activate the device’s microphone, and intercept messages. ” Harrison added. “To protect travelers and their data, adopting cybersecurity measures focused on risk mitigation is essential to every organization’s travel policy.”
He suggested that companies improve their cyber hygiene by:
- Keep your device software up to date
- Use antivirus software with VPN components
- Require strong app and online account passwords. Biometric authentication is required, preferably with two-factor authentication enabled.
Finally, Harrison recommended using secure mobile Wi-Fi hotspots instead of public Wi-Fi for internet access in public or unknown areas.