NortonLifeLock | Tips to Keep your Connection Secure while Working Remote during Corona Virus Pandemic

Working remote due to the coronavirus? These 7 tips will help keep your connections secure

Fast facts:

• The novel coronavirus is changing how Americans work. Some employers advise, “Stay home.”
• Working from home could increase cybersecurity risks. Tech protection can help.
• Tools like VPNs can help protect data and online connections, but workers may need to adapt in other ways.
• Scam alert: Coronavirus-related phishing emails aim to trick staffers with fake company policies.

The novel coronavirus is changing the daily habits of millions of people globally, including where they work. Many employers are telling their employees — or offering them the option — to work from home.

Companies such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft have announced they are allowing staff to work remote to help protect against the coronavirus, or COVID-19, the name of the respiratory disease it causes. The idea: Protect health and help control the spread of the disease.

If you decide to work remote, it’s a good idea to keep cybersecurity in mind. That means protecting your devices and data, just like you would in the workplace.

Here are some tips to help keep your connections secure.

1. Keep close contact with your employer: It’s smart to stay on top of company communications. Your inbox might contain emails about policy changes ranging from work hours to travel. Your employer might consolidate coronavirus-related information on the company intranet. If you have questions, ask.
2. Use what’s in your company’s tech toolbox: Companies often have tech tools that can help keep you cybersafe when you work from home. That might mean you do your work on company-supplied laptops and mobile devices. They likely include firewall and antivirus protection, along with security features like VPN and 2-factor authentication.
3. Control the impulse to improvise: Employees often work in teams, and that can mean using collaboration tools like instant-messaging platforms and video-meeting rooms. If a tool isn’t working right, you might be tempted to download a substitute. Don’t do it. You could inadvertently introduce a software program with a security flaw — and that means someone unauthorized may be able to access company data, or any personal data you have on that device.
4. Stay current on software updates and patches: You might get reminders that software updates are available for your computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile device. Don’t wait. Update. Also, keep in mind you can configure your devices to update automatically. Updates help patch security flaws and help protect your data. Updates can also add new features to your devices and remove outdated ones.
5. Keep your VPN turned on: A VPN — short for virtual private network — can help protect the data you send and receive while you work from home. A VPN can provide a secure link between employees and businesses by encrypting data. VPNs help protect against cybercriminals and snoops from seeing what you do online during a workday. That might include sending or receiving financial information, strategy documents, and customer data. A VPN helps keep that information secure from cybercriminals and competitors.
6. Beware of coronavirus-themed phishing emails: Cybercriminals are exploiting the coronavirus outbreak to send fake emails with dangerous links to employees. Here’s how it works. The email messages may appear to come from company officials and might ask you to open a link to a new company policy related to the coronavirus. If you click on the attachment or imbedded link, you’re likely to download malware onto your device. Don’t click. Instead, immediately report the phishing attempt to your employer. A phishing email with malicious software could allow cybercriminals to take control of your computer, log your keystrokes, or access sensitive business information and financial data.
7. Develop a new routine: Working from home requires changing your routine. Making sure you’re cyber secure is part of that. But it also involves structuring your day to work efficiently and maintain contact with your team. If you’re used to starting the day by greeting your coworkers, you might consider continuing to do that by email or on a chat platform.

Finance Minister announces Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for the poor to help them fight the battle against Corona Virus

Finance Minister announces Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for the poor to help them fight the battle against Corona Virus

Ø  Insurance cover of Rs 50 Lakh per health worker fighting COVID-19 to be provided under Insurance Scheme

Ø  80 crore poor people will to get 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month for the next three months

Ø  20 crore women Jan Dhan account holders to get Rs 500 per month for next three months

Ø  Increase in MNREGA wage to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182 to benefit 13.62 crore families

Ø  An ex-gratia of Rs 1,000 to 3 crore poor senior citizen, poor widows and poor disabled

Ø  Government to front-load Rs 2,000 paid to farmers in first week of April under existing PM Kisan Yojana to benefit 8.7 crore farmers

Ø  Central Government has given orders to State Governments to use Building and Construction Workers Welfare Fund to provide relief to Construction Workers

New Delhi, 26^th March 2020

The Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Niramla Sitharaman today announced Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for the poor to help them fight the battle against Corona Virus. While addressing the press conference here today, Smt. Sitharaman said “Today’s measures are intended at reaching out to the poorest of the poor, with food and money in hands, so that they do not face difficulties in buying essential supplies and meeting essential needs.”

The Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs Shri Anurag Singh Thakur was also present besides Shri Atanu Chakraborty, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs and Shri Debashish Panda, Secretary, Department of Financial Services. Following are the components of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package:

PRADHAN MANTRI GARIB KALYAN PACKAGE

I. Insurance scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19 in Government Hospitals and Health Care Centres

·        Safai karamcharis, ward-boys, nurses, ASHA workers, paramedics, technicians, doctors and specialists and other health workers would be covered by a Special insurance Scheme.

·        Any health professional, who while treating Covid-19 patients, meet with some accident, then he/she would be compensated with an amount of Rs 50 lakh under the scheme.

·        All government health centres, wellness centres and hospitals of Centre as well as States would be covered under this scheme  approximately 22 lakh health workers would be provided insurance cover to fight this pandemic.

II.  PM Garib Kalyan Ann (अन्न) Yojana

·        Government of India would not allow anybody, especially any poor family, to suffer on account of non-availability of foodgrains due to disruption in the next three months.

·        80 crore individuals, i.e, roughly two-thirds of India’s population would be covered under this scheme.

·        Each one of them would be provided double of their current entitlement over next three months. 

·        This additionality would be free of cost.

Pulses:

·        To ensure adequate availability of protein to all the above mentioned individuals, 1 kg per family, would be provided pulses according to regional preferences for next three months.

·        These pulses would be provided free of cost by the Government of India.

III. Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana,

Benefit to farmers:

·      The first instalment of Rs 2,000 due in 2020-21 will be front-loaded and paid in April 2020 itself under the PM KISAN Yojana.

·      It would cover 8.7 crore farmers

IV. Cash transfers Under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana:

Help to Poor:

·        A total of 20.40 crores PMJDY women account-holders would be given an ex-gratia of Rs 500 per month for next three months.

Gas cylinders:

·        Under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, gas cylinders, free of cost, would be provided to 8 crore poor families for the next three months.

Help to low wage earners in organised sectors:

·        Wage-earners below Rs 15,000 per month in businesses having less than 100 workers are at risk of losing their employment.

·        Under this package, government proposes to pay 24 percent of their monthly wages into their PF accounts for next three months.

·        This would prevent disruption in their employment.

Support for senior citizens (above 60 years), widows and Divyang:

·        There are around 3 crore aged widows and people in Divyang category who are vulnerable due to economic disruption caused by COVID-19.

·        Government will give them Rs 1,000 to tide over difficulties during next three months.

MNREGA

·        Under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, MNREGA wages would be increased by Rs 20 with effect from 1 April, 2020. Wage increase under MNREGA will provide an additional Rs 2,000 benefit annually to a worker.

·        This will benefit approximately 13.62 crore families.

V. Self-Help groups:

·      Women organised through 63 lakhs Self Help Groups (SHGs) support 6.85 crore households.

a)      Limit of collateral free lending would be increased from Rs 10 to Rs 20 lakhs.

VI. Other components of PM Garib Kalyan package

Organised sector:

·        Employees’ Provident Fund Regulations will be amended to include Pandemic as the reason to allow non-refundable advance of 75 percent of the amount or three months of the wages, whichever is lower, from their accounts.

·        Families of four crore workers registered under EPF can take benefit of this window.

Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Fund:

·        Welfare Fund for Building and Other Constructions Workers has been created under a Central Government Act.

·        There are around 3.5 Crore registered workers in the Fund.

·        State Governments will be given directions to utilise this fund to provide assistance and support to these workers to protect them against economic disruptions.

District Mineral Fund

·        The State Government will be asked to utilise the funds available under District Mineral Fund (DMF) for supplementing and augmenting facilities of medical testing, screening and other requirements in connection with preventing the spread of CVID-19 pandemic as well as treating the patients affected with this pandemic.

Corona Virus and Impact on Travel

Corona Virus  or COVID 19 as we all know has had a significant impact on the Global Trade, Economy and Travel.

The COVID  - 19 has affected 104 countries and territories. As of today the number of Corona Virus (COVID - 19) has surpassed 1,07,800 and 3,661 deaths.  World Health Organisation(WHO) reminds all countries and communities that the spread of this virus can be significantly slowed or even reversed through the implementation of robust containment and control activities.

It is also observed that the Corona Virus (COVID - 19) affects people above 65 or people with chronic illness OR with low immunity more as compared to the younger generation.

China and a few other countries have already demonstrated that the spread fo the virus can be slowed and impact reduced by using of universally applicable actions such as working across society to identify people who are sick, bringing them to care, preparing hospitals and clinics to manage surge in patients, educating and training health workers.

As WHO continues to work with all counters to develop guidance, distribute supplies, share knowledge and provide people with the information they need to protect themselves and others.

Several countries have released travel advisories for their citizens to travel to various countries. Some of the countries are restricting flights/travel from a few affected countries.

The Flights and hotels are seeing high cancellation and substantial reduction in international traveller’s. Due to this  Airlines have started offering free cancellation or date change and hotels are also extending similar benefits to their customers.

There are several travellers who are ready to fly inspite of the situation as the overall percentage of affected people is substantially low in most countries. The biggest fear what traveller’s are having is getting stuck in a foreign land. What happens if there is a surge in the increase in the number of cases after they reach a foreign country and the government issues a travel restriction to / from home country, one will be stuck in a foreign land.

Major conferences and international trade fares have been cancelled or postponed all over the world due to the Corona Virus outbreak.

To avoid this, we are expecting that there will be some increase in domestic travel.

How can you protect yourself if you still decide to travel?

There are a range of Recommendations by WHO for those who would prefer to travel int he current scenario.

1.   Wash your hands frequently

2.   Cover your nose and mouth when coughing

3.   Avoid close contact with anyone showing slightest signs which are seen in Corona Virus patients such as fever, running nose, cold, cough, difficulty in breathing.

4.   Incase you feel you have any symptoms of Corona Virus, go to the nearest Medical facility to get yourself checked.

Jay Kantawala from WIYO Travel commented that there most tourists are opting to cancel their international travel, a few are applying for their visas and will take a call last minute. This is mainly due to the complete uncertainty in how the Virus is spreading and sudden decisions by the government authorities to implement travel bans and chances of getting stuck in a foreign land.

Jay Kantawala from WIYO Travel commented that statistics has shown that the cruise industry has been steadily growing and has seen excellent growth in past 5 years, the year 2017 has seen a investment of over US Dollars 6.8 Billion in new cruise ships, this will add capacity further and the cruise companies are expecting the industry to grow at a good pace in the coming years. Lot of cruisers would use the cruise experience to feel a destination to only return there again at a later date to explore in-depth.