## 2 Related Work
### Remote Work (Study) Security and Wi-Fi Settings  
An important security challenge that any user faces when transitioning to a remote (home) location is the method of electronic communication. Within a company or other organization, the offered methods of electronic communication may include wired or wireless options. These organizational settings can define a general security framework supported by applications, network and hardware security features as well as a wide range of policies that users are required to comply with. Governance of IT security is also typically in place, and third parties, such as consultants, can review the IT security preparedness either on request or based on regulatory and other legal requirements. The remote location, typically the home environment, mostly has one device that channels all electronic communications. This device, the Wi-Fi router, is also a central hub for all other smart devices present in the same environment. The security of this device is essential for establishing a secure line of communication [28]. As such, it needs to be continuously maintained to keep up with the growing use of this wireless technology. The term Wi-Fi broadly refers to a family of wireless network protocols based on the standard family of IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n. Wi-Fi is pervasively used for access in private homes, within offices, at publicly available places, etc. [28]. The typical security and encryption protocols (WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA3) are used by all remote users, while Wi-Fi router devices allow the selection of the required level of security for individual cases. There is a wide range of security issues relating to Wi-Fi communication technology [29]. The WEP protocol is renowned for its security weaknesses relating to the encryption mechanism, capture of wireless signals and eavesdropping attempts. The WPA security protocol was introduced to tackle these shortcomings, but surprisingly WEP is still offered by Wi-Fi device manufacturers as an available option when users are setting up these devices. The WPA protocol also has vulnerabilities [30], such as susceptibility to FMS attacks aimed at recovering secret keys, but subsequent versions have been developed to mitigate these risks. WPA2/WPA3 are considered to be the current protocol of choice for remote users, with WPA3 addressing most but not all of the attack vectors applicable to WPA2 [31]. VPNs are another technology tool used by both organizations and individuals to increase the security of electronic communication through encryption. Among the many technology solutions present in the market today for organizations working in a remote setting, VPN is the solution of choice for creating a secure connection through the public Internet by extending the private network. It provides the convenience of a public network combined with the security of a private network by establishing a tunnel between sender and receiver. VPN technology has evolved over time, and considerable energy and effort have been invested in designing a secure networking model [32]. A number of vulnerabilities have been exposed and listed in the context of VPN hardware, software, configuration and actual implementation [33], thus organizations must assess their own VPN configuration on a regular basis to mitigate the risks. Remote employees are also often instructed to work with smartphones together with traditional computers and laptops. The typical employee smartphone will provide access to the same electronic mail system and other applications as are available on computers and laptops. A mobile device VPN can help to address security and data privacy issues when these devices and the installed apps have access to organizational or customer data. Research has shown [34] that the conceptual model and design methodology of mobile VPN can use the experience accumulated through the use of VPN technology with non-mobile devices, but it also needs to provide convenience for the mobile users.