Is working from home putting you at risk?

Kiwis have taken to working from home. But how well do you protect your data (hint: almost no one gets a perfect score). Data likes to wander, and everyone's data is more vulnerable away from the office.

IT systems alone can't keep your data secure. A lot depends on you and your behaviour. So what's your digital disposition? Are you “Buttoned-Down and Hyper-Vigilant”, or “Lax and laissez-faire”? Take the test to find out if you're putting yourself and your company a risk.

What do you do when someone shares a file with you?

If I know the person I’ll open the file.

I open the file only if I’m expecting it. Otherwise I delete. Better safe than sorry.

Services like WhatsApp , Messenger and Skype are encrypted, so they're safe,

I always check to see if the sender’s email address is legitimate.

I’m protected by antivirus software, so I can open any file safely.

How do you protect your home Wi-Fi?

I post the password on the fridge.

I reboot the router each month to update the software

I use a 12-character formula – upper, lower, number, special – and change it regularly.

I use the password that came with the router.

We use the one password for everything at home. That makes it easier.

Who else has access to your Wi-Fi network when you work from home?

My partner and me. The kids are on a separate network.

Everyone has a different Wi-Fi account.

We share Wi-Fi, but only within our family.

Our family and the Airbnb guests. Not the neighbours.

Just me. And only for work.

How do you make work-related video calls?

Zoom. Teams. Skype. Hangouts. Facetime. Whatever. I’m broad-minded.

The kids introduced me to Discord. Really superior sound quality.

I use Zoom, but only from a paid for account.

I use the free version of Zoom. It works fine.

I don’t like using waiting rooms and passcodes. That's not friendly.

I have camera cover. I open it and turn on the camera only when I'm ready.

How do you manage smart devices in your home?

We use Alexa. It connects to everything and runs the household. It’s great.

Our security cameras are connected to a different Wi-Fi network, so we're good.

My router has a separate IoT network that I use for smart devices.

Because we share devices we all know one another's passwords.

I’m a fan. I can turn the oven, vacuum and washing machine on over Wi-Fi. They're all plug and play

How do you share and protect mobile devices at home?

We have a rule: one user per device.

I keep my phone unlocked at home. I trust my family

We share the tablets. But they’re on the guest Wi-Fi network

The kids are too young to have their own phones, so I occasionally let them use mine

Home is home. I turn off my phone when I arrive and turn it back on only when I leave.

I always lock my mobile devices whenever I walk away from them

How do you protect yourself from email scams?

Anti-virus software. And my spam filter is set to “Paranoid Level 11”

If an email is from someone I trust I will open it.

If I think an email looks dodgy I probably won’t open it.

I get at least three phishing emails a week. They're pretty obvious. After a while you learn to ignore them

I always verify the sender’s address and check any URL’s before clicking

How do you manage and protect your laptop?

I don’t have one, so it’s not a problem.

It’s mine, for work. I lock it whenever I leave it, and no one is allowed to touch it.

It contains my life. Work. Photos. Calendar. Recipes. It’s always on. If I lost it my life would be a mess.

The kids can use it, but I run a strict roster. Homework first. Then games.

No games. YouTube, and a time limit on social. I get it back when the kids are in bed.

What precautions do you take when using public Wi-Fi?

I run a VPN or another secure connecton

I use the hotel’s broadband, because then they manage security

I only use Wi-Fi in cafés that have a password. Never open WiFi

I use hotspots for email only. Never for downloads or banking.

I always sit with my back to the wall so no-one can see my password

How do you connect to you company’s network and access files?

VPN. Two-factor authentication. Frequent password changes. No password re-use

It’s all on Dropbox. Or Asana. Or Box. Or One Drive. Actually, it’s very confusing.

We use SharePoint and Office 365, so it’s secure anyway.

It’s so complicated that I usually have to ask someone to help me

It’s always changing so I keep the latest password in my notebook bag.

You are {result #1 percent} Buttoned down and hyper-vigilant

No hacker is going to slip anything past you. You're better protected than an armoured car. And all business. WiFi? Check. Email? Check. Passwords? Check. Sharing? No way. Never. But how do you sleep? And sometimes you may get legitimate emails from people you don't already know.

{result #2 percent} Prudent and practical
{result #3 percent} Occasionally attentive
{result #4 percent} A Distracted Multitasker
{result #5 percent} Lax and Laissez-faire

You are {result #2 percent} Prudent and practical

Balance is your mantra. You recognise risks and manage them well, maintaining a healthy suspicion of direct approaches. But others in your world may not be as careful, so watch out for indirect vulnerabilities, particularly at home (which is, of course, where you feel most secure).

{result #1 percent} Buttoned down and hyper-vigilant
{result #3 percent} Occasionally attentive
{result #4 percent} A Distracted Multitasker
{result #5 percent} Lax and Laissez-faire

You are {result #3 percent} Occasionally Attentive

You're always on, but not always on-guard. Cyber-safety and driving have a lot in common: minimise risk and be prepared to respond to the unexpected. And that requires full time attention.

{result #1 percent} Buttoned down and hyper-vigilant
{result #2 percent} Prudent and practical
{result #4 percent} A Distracted Multitasker
{result #5 percent} Lax and Laissez-faire

You are {result #4 percent} A Distracted Multitasker

You know there are bad actors and you understand the risks. But you don't always give them the respect they deserve. It's time to review your personal approach to cybersecurity -- across all devices, all channels, all locations.

{result #1 percent} Buttoned down and hyper-vigilant
{result #2 percent} Prudent and practical
{result #3 percent} Occasionally attentive
{result #5 percent} Lax and Laissez-faire

You are {result #5 percent} Lax and Laissez-faire

You're an incurable optimist. You trust your fellow humans. That’s admirable, but the world is full of people who aren’t as nice as you. Your luck has held out so far. But don’t wait until it runs out. Time to work on your cyber safety drills.

{result #1 percent} Buttoned down and hyper-vigilant
{result #2 percent} Prudent and practical
{result #3 percent} Occasionally attentive
{result #4 percent} A Distracted Multitasker