5 Major Cybersecurity Risks Faced by Freelance Designers

Cybersecurity gains more relevance among freelance communities as more continue to adopt the lifestyle. It’s projected that freelancers will make up 50.9 percent of the U.S. workforce by 2027. If you’re a freelance designer, cybersecurity is even more relevant to the longevity of your career. As new threats seemingly pop up every week, which ones affect you in particular?

In this article we’ll discuss the major cybersecurity risks you could face as a freelance designer, and what you should do to avoid them. While the realm of cyber threats is vast, the following risks tend to affect freelance designers in particular.

Here are the 5 most major ones and the ways how you can protect yourself from them.

1. The Dangers of Public Wi-Fi

This one pertains to all freelancers, and designers aren’t exempt. As a freelancer, remote working is your way of life. Whether working from home or sometimes working from your favorite cafe – this is a major perk to the lifestyle.

Consequently, working in public places presents a set of risks. Working over unsecured public connections means exposing private data to Wi-Fi snoops. Your browsing and login data can be collected and used for malicious purposes by hackers this way.

How to avoid being hacked:

By far the easiest way to mitigate this risk is by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). This software encrypts your private data, even on unencrypted networks. Learn more about what a VPN can do for your cybersecurity.

2. Sending Corrupted Files to Clients

While all freelancers share files, most are able to share links via online work environments like Google Docs and Microsoft Office Online. This ensures a high level of cyber safety for clients. On the other hand, designers constantly need to send images and other external files to their clients.

This can, unfortunately, expose your clients to cybersecurity risks. If your computer is unknowingly corrupted, the files you share can be equally infected. Accidentally exposing clients to cyber threats can make a dent in your professional reputation.

How to avoid being hacked:

Rather than using email or your preferred messenger, consider an encrypted file-sharing service. It protects your clients from possible cyber threats as most such file-sharing services have an antivirus embedded in their software.

3. Receiving Files from Suspicious Clients

On the other end, receiving files from clients can be equally dangerous. Designers need to work with various files, many of which are provided by clients. Herein lies the possibility that you can walk right into a booby trap.

Almost all freelance platforms draw in cybercriminals. Rather than setting up phishing websites or emails, they pose as potential clients. Freelancers who aren’t careful enough can easily fall victim to these scams.

How to avoid being hacked:

There’s a number of ways to spot a suspicious client:

• Unreasonably high pay for a small job;
• No digital footprint of the company;
• Asking for your private data right away;
• They require some sort of payment to secure the job.

4. Threats to Online Work Environments

You’ve probably noticed that many editing tools and software are moving online. This brings with it a range of cybersecurity risks. In 2019, the data of 139 million users was stolen when a popular graphic design platform Canva was hacked. Attacks like these were unheard of when similar software could operate offline. The added connectivity of modern programs has its benefits but allows for data breaches by external forces.

How to avoid being hacked:

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to protect against this risk. Just make sure you place your trust in a company with a good cybersecurity history. If a program you use is compromised, change your email and passwords immediately.

5. Your Favorite Software Might Be Outdated

So many designers have their favorite editing software, which they usually refuse to update to avoid losing old features or unwanted UI updates. However, the program you’re clinging onto might pose a considerable risk to your cybersecurity.

As software ages, backdoors in the code become infamous. Cybercriminals target these vulnerabilities as many users avoid updates. Developers intentionally patch these security issues in updates, so missing out could spell trouble for you.

How to avoid being hacked:

Luckily, the solution to this issue is an easy one. Simply keep your software updated. This may mean losing some favorite features, but a hack would mean losing so much more.

In Summary:

As a freelance designer, you can face a wide range of risks during your day-to-day work. Mitigating these risks is essential to a healthy and safe online career. Focusing on the major risks mentioned here diminishes the chances of facing cyber threats. This way, you can spend more time and resources building your freelance design career rather than dealing with the consequences of being hacked.