Layered Security Approach Helps Small Businesses Protect Information
Focus Area 2: Threats Abound - and They're Increasing
Left unprotected, your company network could fall prey to a group of electronic villains that's getting larger by the day. What are these malicious intruders? What havoc could they wreak on your network? And, most importantly, how can you protect your network from its attackers?
Spam
If you have an e-mail account, you're all too familiar with spam. It's the electronic version of junk mail - messages offering "free" vacation packages, "guaranteed" stock tips, prescription drugs "for pennies" and other offers that sound too good to be true (and almost all of them are).
Unfortunately, spam has been around almost as long as e-mail has. Even more unfortunate is the fact that it has proliferated dramatically in recent years. In fact, worldwide spam volume nearly doubled from October 2005 to October 2006, increasing from 31 billion to 61 billion in that time according to Ironport Systems*, an e-mail and Internet security products provider.
Sorting through spam to get to important messages is not only annoying, but it can also reduce your productivity. That's because every minute you and your employees spend weeding through spam is a minute lost that could be spent serving customers.
While it's almost impossible to completely block spam out of your e-mail, a variety of software can give it a run for its money. Generally referred to as spam blockers or spam filters, this software can scan every piece of e-mail that comes into your e-mail box, looking for telltale signs of spam. Any suspect e-mail is either completely blocked or sent to a spam or "junk mail" folder in your e-mail. Some spam blockers are more aggressive than others, and as a result they can occasionally block out non-spam messages (the ones you actually want to receive). However, most spam filtering software can be adjusted for how aggressively you would like to filter spam.
If spam does inevitably find its way into your e-mail inbox, do not open it. Do not respond. Do not click on the link that says "unsubscribe me from future offers." Buy nothing that they're offering. Doing any one of these things will likely bring about more spam - or worse, viruses and spyware.
Viruses
Not as numerous, but more insidious than spam, are viruses. A virus is a piece of code or small program that loads itself onto your computer, attaches itself to a program and runs without your knowledge. Also known as worms or Trojan horses, viruses tend to work their way into your business computer via e-mail and the Internet. When they break through, these type of emails can paralyze computers, delete or alter data and application files, and in their most dangerous form, replicate and transmit themselves across networks. In other words, viruses can cause serious downtime, resulting in serious decreases in productivity - and profitability - for your company.
Although getting viruses can significantly impact your company budget, you don't have to pay a high price to fight them. And by regularly updating your business' virus-fighting tools, you'll greatly reduce your chances of being infected.
The first step is to use anti-virus software on every computer in your company. Symantec Norton Internet SecurityTM 2005 and McAfee Internet Security Suite 7.0 are among the best on the market because they can automatically update and are designed to take on the newest breeds of viruses and other malicious software - which appear virtually every day. Both Symantec and McAfee offer integrated anti-virus, anti-spam, firewall and intrusion detection applications in a single software bundle to help protect your company from these online threats. And Dell can make it easy for you to purchase the security you need by factory integrating the software you self-select during the purchase process. Stand alone anti-virus or anti-spyware products are also available if that's your preference.
In addition to using and updating your security software, another smart step is to regularly update your company computers' operating systems with the latest security patches. Windows XP Professional Edition makes this easy, with its Automatic Update function. By turning on the Automatic Update function - and keeping it turned on - Windows can automatically check for and install the latest security patches from Microsoft.
Security software requires significant computer memory and disk space, and older operating systems do not include the latest security features. To help improve performance and ensure maximum security, you should consider replacing your old systems with ones running the latest processors and Microsoft Windows operating system.
Spyware
Spyware refers to malicious software that invades your computers and can secretly collect personal information about you, your small business and your employees without anyone's consent. Spyware records personal information through a variety of methods, including recording Internet browsing history, scanning documents on computers' hard disks and even recording the keystrokes that you and your employees make on their keyboards.
In some cases, spyware collects this information for targeted advertising purposes. In other cases, spyware is seeking out passwords, critical company information and financial data.
Spyware often uses a significant amount of memory in your PC. In fact, it's not uncommon for spyware to create significant performance slow-downs - and sometimes even fatal crashes when left unchecked.
Fortunately, you can help keep spyware in check with a wide range of anti-spyware software on the market, including the previously mentioned bundles or products such as Webroot's Spy SweeperTM or Sunbelt Software's anti-spyware plus internet filtering bundle.
While these spyware protections work hard for you, it's almost impossible to completely avoid spyware. These tips can help:
- Keep your operating system up-to-date. Use the "Automatic Update" feature discussed previously.
- Do not download files from questionable websites. Many so called "freeware" downloads are usually accompanied with Spyware. Peer-to-peer sites are often rife with spyware. Avoid them.
- Never click "OK" - or for that matter, click anything - on a pop-up. That's an open invitation for spyware to invade your computer.
- Never give out personal information to a questionable website. Do not provide credit card information to any site other than those you trust.
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For more information on viruses, spyware and spam and how to protect your network from intruders, please visit www.dell.com/security
