When the pandemic forced millions to work from home all of a sudden, a rise in cybercrime was all but inevitable. People who were unused to handling IT security by themselves and isolated from help increased vulnerability, especially among those who had not been given the necessary training.

This was made worse by the fact that the pandemic itself was exploited by hackers using devices like phishing emails, often claiming to be connected with things ranging from furlough payments to Covid-related health surveys. In April 2020 Google said around 18 million emails of this kind were being sent every day.

Now that remote working has become a regular feature of working life for millions, the question is whether this now leaves a section of the workforce more vulnerable to cyber attacks than those in offices.

The right response to such a question is to look at your IT support and ensure you are getting what you need, not least in security terms. The simple reason for this is that whatever anyone else’s situation, you need to make sure your own security is in a good place, especially if you are self-employed and therefore ultimately responsible for this yourself.

Nonetheless, there has been evidence in recent years that remote workers can be more vulnerable. Remarkably, one BBC report in 2021 revealed that the IT sector itself was one of the most at risk, with research showing many staff were slack with security like passwords when at home – and the survey found staff agreed they were falling short.

This found that 56 per cent of IT technicians had picked up bad security habits when working from home, despite their greater knowledge of the wider dangers.

What that should do is act as a warning that the biggest danger faced by home workers may be complacency. Don’t let this catch you out; make sure you have the support and systems in place to protect yourself against all manner of cyber threats.