What Does Your Desk Say About You?
People crave familiarity, even in our workplace; a way to say this is my space. Our beloved sticky notes, that cute screen saver, and pictures of our most beloved things. Shoulder surfing is a habit where attackers take a mental snapshot of your screen and any information they can collect. The open applications, the number of tabs that are open on the screen, and where things are located on your screen.
One of the most common breaches in cyber security is found on people’s desks.
Some good habits are to:
- Always, when possible, have your screens set up in a way that people are greeted by the back side of the screen, and they must go around them to see your monitor.
- Minimize open tabs when not in use.
- Have your monitors go to sleep when not in use. Yes, this is inconvenient, but you will get used to it. Same as a seat-belt, you will stop thinking about it and just do it.
- Don’t leave notes or agendas open on your desk when you are not around.
Think of your desk the same as your home…. the door is locked when you are not there.
At the end of the day, your desk tells a story—and in the digital world, you want to make sure it’s not giving away secrets. A little awareness goes a long way. By treating your workspace like a private zone and adopting a few simple habits, you can stop shoulder surfers in their tracks. Cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and fancy tools—it starts right where you sit. Lock your digital doors, tidy up your virtual clutter, and protect what matters.
