This is the ‘career ending’ mistake you’re making on your commute

As if you needed another excuse not to work overtime.

Trying to fit in a few extra emails or a work call during your commute to the office can do more harm than good, experts say.

You never know who might be eavesdropping while sitting across from you on the bus or subway, which means that taking calls or allowing passengers to look over your shoulder at sensitive messages or other content can put yourself and your company at risk. .

“Many of us are unwittingly leaving valuable breadcrumbs for others to follow on their daily commute, including business names, contact details and other sensitive information,” David told Metro Emm, a principal security researcher at Kaspersky.

The cybersecurity company, in partnership with Debrett’s, recently released data on privacy and information security, revealing in a new report that 66% of commuters surveyed admitted to writing work emails while on public transport, while 29% admitted to had seen work-related documents. in public.

Meanwhile, 35% of people said they had previously overheard phone conversations about private business matters while traveling, and 24% found they had sniffed out the business names and workplace locations of their traveling companions.

“If you’re handling strategic information during your commute, the impact of a leak could be massive — and potentially easily traceable to those in the know,” Emm warned. “Whether it’s a financial deal, legal matter or patient data, exposing such details to the public can lead to significant consequences for both the business and the individual responsible.”

Even casual conversations about the workplace can be used by a cybercriminal to hack the company.

“Whether you’re a lawyer, a banker or a doctor, data storage in public places is non-negotiable,” said Emm.

According to Kaspersky and Debrett’s guide to “digital discretion”, the companies warned travelers to stay alert and wary of “shoulder surfers” – people looking over your shoulder to see your screen – and “window peepers” – those looking in window reflections to see your device.

Industries that handle sensitive information — such as “finance, health care and law” — have policies that restrict employees from engaging in work while in public places, and violating these rules can spell trouble for your career.

“In these sectors, accessing sensitive information outside of secure environments can be a career-ending move, with the potential for disciplinary action, legal consequences and significant damage to the company,” Emm explained.