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