- Image courtesy of Wikipedia.org
Finding work certainly isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days when the exclusive way to get a job is walking right into Mr. Wilson’s office and demanding a position (although that does still work sometimes). Most jobs are applied for online, even those whose store may be right across the street from your house.
Whether you’re ready to try your hand at the new security firm or you’re getting ready to start bagging at the end of the checkout line, chances are you’ll be doing so from a computer. Even paper applications eventually wind up as digital data if you’re a real candidate for the job. So what must be done to protect this information?
Depending on the method, different actions and tools will keep you safe.
Applying Online – Incognito
Hoping to save paper and to keep limited space more organized, most businesses have shifted away from physical applications in lieu of what they consider more convenient: an online application. From the comfort of your home, you can apply for the majority of jobs and receive responses in the form of a phone call or email. But applications usually contain fairly sensitive information.
At the minimum, your name and contact information will be provided, but your home address and other, more specific information (sometimes even your social security number) may also be required. To keep this data safe, you’ll want to start by getting a VPN.
A VPN (virtual private network) will ensure no one else can follow your internet traffic by routing it to an offsite secure server. This means your IP address will be hidden from any prying eyes; they would see the VPN’s IP address instead of your address, keeping you safe from scammers and hackers trying to steal your identity.
Even if these people were to somehow intercept your information, it would do them no good since you are connected to a VPN service. VPNs usually encrypt all of your internet traffic, meaning even your password will show up as nothing more than a string of random characters. This is naturally impossible to decipher in any reasonable amount of time, meaning your data is effectively immune from being stolen so long as it’s being sent over the VPN. Unless the NSA develops a quantum computer, you’ve got nothing to worry about.
Malware and You
Even if your connection is secure and you’re effectively anonymous, everything can come crashing down if you get stuck with some nasty malware. Viruses, scareware, and the like can all bring your online job search to a screeching halt. To avoid these problems, start by installing some antivirus software on your device of choice.
Panda Free Antivirus is a good choice because—you guessed it—it’s free! There’s really no need for a private user to pay for antiviral software. Plenty of free options (including AVG and Avast!) exist that work perfectly well for someone not running a business computer. Given that you’re looking for a job, you’re unlikely to need the corporate edition of Symantec’s Norton, so stick with the free stuff.
Prevention is key in the world of malware, not just in having the right software, but in having the right state of mind. Be aware that links don’t always lead to pleasant sites (some sites can have javascript encoded to install viruses on your machine) and not all emails are safe to open. Spoofing can be used to fake an email address from your contacts, so that email from Tod that strangely says “click here for pictures of me” may be just as bad as the spam from Nigeria.
Beware of Scams
Speaking of Nigeria, fake jobs are an increasingly popular source of identity theft online. Beware “too good to be true” offers whether they’re for money, jobs, or otherwise. If the opportunity seems suspicious, it probably is. What’s more, these forms of identity theft often involve the use of extremely poor grammar. Missing articles, incorrect plural words, and bad spelling are just a few common things to expect from these scams.
Real jobs don’t require you to cash checks or front money before you begin your position. Immediate acceptance is also a big red flag; modern jobs rarely grant you a position the first day you apply. Above all, use common sense, and if you aren’t sure, ask a friend if something sounds fishy.
Need to Know Basis
It’s no secret that any job you apply for is going to need some information about who you are and what you’ve done in your life that makes you qualify for the position. This is the easiest place to compromise your personal data; providing unnecessary information can leave you in a world of trouble if it finds its way into the wrong hands.
We’ve looked at a few ways to avoid that, but above all, you should simply avoid handing out information that isn’t requested. Most jobs will only need your name and contact info; personal details should be left out unless they are specifically relevant to the job you’re seeking. What’s more, you’ll want to be careful who you give this information out to. Ensure applications are submitted to the most official possible sources, and if you’re applying in person, avoid giving applications to employees if able. Always submit your application directly when able.
Passwords
Finally, we come to the most humble form of security: passwords. Required for virtually everything from your debit PIN to your email login, the strength of your password determines how much chance there is someone else can access your private data. When given the option, always create stronger, longer passwords.
A strong password includes multiple character types (uppercase, numbers, and symbols) and is as long as a service allows. Consider a passphrase if you have trouble remembering passwords because they can be stronger yet easier to recall.
Above all, use caution. Applying for jobs is your job until you’re hired.
This post was authored by Cassie Phillips, writer at Secure Thoughts, and blogger covering online security and data privacy. She enjoys sharing news, tips and tricks about cybersecurity, technology, apps and travel.