New research has revealed that an overwhelming majority (90%) of workers use company-provided laptops for personal activities, potentially posing a serious cybersecurity risk.
ESET's study highlighted that a significant portion of employees also engage in risky activities using their company's hardware, including viewing adult content, gambling, accessing the dark web and illegally streaming sports.
ESET attributes the shift to hybrid and remote work to additional strain on security teams, adding that companies should consider adding more robust security measures to manage corporate devices remotely, while also educating employees.
Business laptops for personal use
The survey found that two-thirds (63%) of respondents accessed the so-called “dark web” on their work laptops weekly, and 17% did so daily.
Men were most likely to access the dark web, while younger workers, aged 16-24, were more likely to connect to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks and use personal USB devices.
“We often hear that ‘employees are the weakest link in security’ and endpoint security may not be the first thought on people’s minds, which can cause issues when switching between work and personal devices,” said Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor at ESET.
Moore acknowledged the benefits of work-life balance offered by hybrid and remote work arrangements, but stressed that companies should implement better cybersecurity processes.
However, despite the clear dangers of personal use and the benefits of remote management software, one in three (36%) would consider their boss to view their personal activity as a breach of privacy.
Additionally, around one in five (18%) do not have any cybersecurity software on their work devices, and a further 7% were unsure whether their device was adequately protected.
With hybrid work here to stay and the boundaries between work and personal life becoming increasingly blurred, it’s becoming clearer that companies need to impose stricter rules to protect both confidential company information and employees.
