Biden's Economic Advisor: "Cyber Threats Increase with the Spread of Remote Work in the US"

Brian Deese: "Phishing Attacks Related to Distributed Office Networks Increased 100% in the First Half of the Year"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Brian Deese, nominated as the first White House National Economic Council (NEC) Chair under President-elect Joe Biden, pointed out that risks related to computer security are increasing due to remote work. The number of employees working from home in the United States has surged amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and vulnerabilities in security are also rising.

According to Bloomberg News on the 9th (local time), Deese said in a radio interview, "We are currently experimenting with companies dispersing their employees and operating company networks remotely," adding, "The risks of running home offices have grown tremendously in terms of cyberattacks." He also noted that phishing attacks on distributed corporate networks nearly doubled in the first half of this year.

A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center of 10,332 American workers found that 71% of U.S. workers are currently working from home. Before COVID-19, this rate was only 20%, but it has increased significantly since the pandemic. Most remote workers reported using online meeting services such as Zoom or Webex to communicate with colleagues.

Deese joined the Obama administration in 2009 after working on Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. At that time, he worked on a task force responsible for rebuilding the automotive industry following the global financial crisis and later served as NEC Deputy Director and Deputy Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

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