| Jarrett Pavao | | | | where these tools cannot help, and you'll be forced to |
| Anyone in business today realizes both the natural | | | | format your hard drive and reinstall your operating |
| dependency on computers in the workplace, and also | | | | system. |
| the potential dangers associated with storing important | | | | Hackers: The term hacker has many different |
| data on them. Today's business owners are constantly | | | | meanings to many different people. A dictionary might |
| being reminded that their company's data is at risk by | | | | define the word hacker as follows, "A person who |
| the daily reports on various news stations, or even | | | | breaks into, or attempts to break into, or use, a |
| their favorite business-related website. But what can a | | | | computer network or system without authorization, |
| typical small business owner do to protect their | | | | often at random, for personal amusement or |
| network from these threats that are broadcasted in | | | | gratification, and not necessarily with malicious intent. 2. |
| so many ways? Dangers lurk at every turn on the | | | | [An] unauthorized user who attempts to or gains |
| Internet. There are thousands of attacks or areas of | | | | access to an information system 3. A technically |
| security that could be discussed, but I am going to try | | | | sophisticated computer expert who intentionally gains |
| and focus on three general nuisances associated with | | | | unauthorized access to targeted protected resources, |
| today's computers: viruses, spy-ware, and traditional | | | | loosely, a computer enthusiast. 4. A person who uses |
| "hackers" that will intentionally try to exploit your | | | | a computer resource in a manner for which it is not |
| computer systems for various reasons. All of these | | | | intended or which is in conflict with the terms of an |
| attacks, although different, serve a specific purpose | | | | acceptable-use policy, but is not necessarily malicious in |
| for the attacker, yet basically translate into three things | | | | intent." As you can see, a hacker is someone with a |
| for a business: lost productivity, lost data, and the end | | | | very high aptitude in computing. By studying the |
| result... lost money. Here is brief descriptions of what | | | | inherent design of computer systems, a hacker will |
| the aforementioned attacks are, consist of, and what | | | | then attempt to compromise those systems for a |
| a typical small business can do to protect their | | | | purpose. Typically, they use a collection of tools easily |
| technology investments. | | | | downloadable on the Internet to exploit a flaw in a |
| | | | program or hardware system. Hackers do what they |
| Protection from Viruses: If you are reading this article, | | | | do for various reasons. Some do it for simple prestige |
| and you still do not have current (this is very important) | | | | amongst their peers, others for financial gain, and |
| anti-virus software running on EVERY single computer | | | | others do it to make a political statement. The impact |
| you own, then shame on you. With all of the marketing | | | | of your network's security being breached can lead to |
| commotion that surrounds viruses, you should already | | | | very serious financial losses. Imagine your customer |
| have antivirus software on all of your computers. If | | | | database being sold to a competitor or even what |
| you don't, then hurry to the store and purchase it. | | | | public response would be if you had to tell your |
| Popular software in the antivirus market is made by | | | | customers that their personal information was stolen? |
| Symantec ( and McAfee ( Larger companies may | | | | Protection from Hackers: I was once told, that no |
| look into a system that will scan emails prior to the | | | | matter how good a safe you buy, there will still always |
| email getting to a user's inbox for viruses. Also, be | | | | be a locksmith that can un-lock it. The same goes for |
| wary of what you open in your email. Do not open | | | | protection against hackers. However the amount of |
| emails from people you do not know, and even if you | | | | people with the expertise to bypass most security |
| do know the sender, take extra caution, as most | | | | defenses, available to companies, are few and far in |
| viruses today will trick you into believing that the virus is | | | | between. To keep your network safe, the following |
| sent from someone that you know. | | | | three items are an absolute must. A quality firewall at |
| Spyware: You may know spyware by one of its | | | | your network's perimeter to filter what goes in and out |
| many names, adware, malware, trackware, | | | | of your internet connection, desktop level firewalls to |
| scumware, thiefware, snoopware, and sneakware. | | | | keep internal company computers safe, and the |
| Because of its stealthy nature, most Internet users are | | | | importance of performing updates to your computer's |
| more familiar with the symptoms of spyware infection: | | | | operating system and applications. Firewalls simply |
| sluggish PC performance, increased pop-up ads, | | | | stated, filter data passing through them. They are in |
| unexplained homepage change, and mysterious search | | | | essence, inspectors that allow and deny data to be |
| results. For virtually everyone surfing the Internet, | | | | passed through them based on certain rules. Most |
| malware and adware are a nuisance, but if you do not | | | | quality firewalls will protect your network by letting the |
| detect spyware on your PC, it can lead to much more | | | | good data through and keeping the bad out. |
| serious consequences such as identity theft. Many | | | | Recommended firewalls for small businesses can be |
| people wonder how they get spyware installed onto | | | | purchased from companies such as Cisco ( |
| their computer in the first place. Typically, spyware is | | | | Watchguard ( or Sonic Wall ( Firewall vendors typically |
| installed onto your PC without your knowledge | | | | have many different models available, so consult with |
| because the programs are usually hidden within other | | | | your network security professional on what to buy. |
| software. For example, when you are browsing a | | | | The important thing is that you have one in place. |
| website, and a pop-up appears to install the latest | | | | Desktop level firewalls provide a true multi-layered |
| online Casino game, it probably will give you that game, | | | | approach to security. This added level of protection |
| but you've also just installed spyware along with that. | | | | strengthens your computer systems defense, and is |
| Another avenue for Spyware to infect your machine | | | | especially helpful to companies that have remote |
| is through popular Peer-to-Peer File Sharing software | | | | workers. Most companies today do have firewalls on |
| such as Kazaa. The financial impact on a business that | | | | their corporate network; however no one ever thinks |
| is plagued by spyware can toll very high. Costs paid to | | | | about the company president's laptop that gets |
| computer consultants to remove spyware, and a | | | | brought home everyday. The president brings his |
| user's overall lost of productivity from a | | | | laptop home and sets up his trusty remote connection |
| slow-performing computer can add up very quickly. | | | | back into his office over his broadband home Internet |
| Protection from Spyware: Spyware is a huge problem | | | | connection. The once protected laptop is now |
| in today's computing environment. Fighting Spyware | | | | completely unprotected and connected directly to the |
| starts with smarter use of your computer. The best | | | | corporate office, which gives a direct avenue for virus |
| defense against spyware and other unwanted | | | | and hackers onto your corporate network. The great |
| software is not to download it in the first place. Here | | | | thing about desktop firewalls is that you can get some |
| are a few helpful tips that can protect you from | | | | great ones for free! If you use the Microsoft Windows |
| downloading software you don't want. Only download | | | | XP operating system, simply upgrade to service pack |
| programs from web sites you trust, read all security | | | | 2 and it includes a free and easy to use desktop level |
| warnings, license agreements, and privacy statements | | | | firewall. If you do not have Windows XP or just do not |
| associated with any software you download, and | | | | want to use their firewall, Zone Alarm ( offers a great |
| never click "agree" or "OK" to close a window. Instead, | | | | desktop level firewall. The last level of defense is to |
| click the red "x" in the corner of the window or press | | | | keep your networked systems up to date with the |
| the Alt + F4 buttons on your keyboard to close a | | | | latest patches and fixes from their respective |
| window, and be wary of popular "free" music and | | | | manufacturers. I will assume that most companies use |
| movie file-sharing programs, and be sure you clearly | | | | Microsoft Windows products for most of their |
| understand all of the software packaged with those | | | | computing needs, so to keep your system updated |
| programs. If you do happen to install Spyware on your | | | | simply go to You should check for updates twice a |
| computer, there are some tools available to assist in | | | | month. |
| the removal of spyware. Be careful however when | | | | Even though this article simply brushes the surface of |
| downloading these "free" spyware removal softwares, | | | | network security, I hope it gives you insight as to some |
| as even some of the removal tools incorporate | | | | potential dangers out there and real incentive to |
| spyware into their software. A popular product that | | | | implement better security for your company. Just as |
| does a good job of removing spyware is Lavasoft's | | | | you have an alarm system at your office, please take |
| Adaware ( Larger organizations can look to | | | | the necessary steps to protect your company's |
| companies such as Computer Associates ( for | | | | computer network and data. If not, the costs of |
| enterprise protection. There are instances when there | | | | recovery I guarantee you will far exceed the costs to |
| is simply just too much spyware installed on a machine | | | | implement a secure network. |