Security threats - what to watch out for in 200512 January 2005
Ever felt like somebody was constantly watching you or that you have no control over your computer? Dealing with security issues like viruses and hackers can be difficult and costly to a business but staying one step ahead of the game, doing your research and being aware can prevent you becoming a likely target.
Our top security threats to watch out for this year will help you protect yourself and your business online.
Viruses
If you've been a victim of suddenly receiving unsolicited emails, or having your computer shut down without forewarning - then you probably know the dangers viruses present.
Viruses are programs that install themselves on your computer and run in the background, damaging data and spreading to other Internet users via email and other software. Trojans act in a similar way to viruses but sit on your computer till the person who has sent it activates it.
Viruses, worms and trojans can affect your computer in several ways - from forcing your computer to shut down every few minutes, to sending Spam from your email; sending mail from companies you never signed up to and more. But these are most dangerous when they corrupt or erase data stored on your computer.
The best ways to deal with these are to install a firewall, warn employees of opening suspicious mails, keep an eye on the news (viruses usually appear in the headlines), invest in security software and be wary of emails you do not recognise.
Email spoofing
Email spoofing is sending email that is designed to appear like it's come from a trusted source. For e.g. you could receive an email from a site you visit regularly, you click on it thinking you are going to that site or a part of that site - you can enter your personal details and realise (often too late) that the page was just a front to another source that's completely unrelated.
Email spoofing is normally used to trick people in to opening Spam. But it can be more dangerous when the email and the site you click on is designed to look like an official one but is really a spoof to make you enter your personal details which can be used for fraud later on.
The only way you can avoid such a threat is to be wary of emails - read the fine print and never enter your personal details if you're unsure.
Spam
Spam or junk mail is and always will be one the Internet's greatest annoyances. The basic reason we all receive Spam is our lack of attention to detail. How many times have you registered on sites and accepted the terms and conditions without even reading it? Often sites you register with, pass on your details to other companies and this can add you the mailing lists that you have no interest in. Also it leaves you wide open to viruses and other security threats. So make sure you always read the fine print when registering with sites.
The other option is to use filtering software. Some of the options on the Internet include Mail washer which is free of charge, Spam buster which runs independently of the mail client and supports POP3 accounts and finally Spam Net which is a community-based mail filtering plug in.
Hackers
Hackers can be of different types, they could be just pranksters or they could have criminal intention. Hackers are people who use tools to break in to systems and cause damage - the damage could range from deleting information to replacing official sites with advertisements or even pornography. Businesses with networks are often easy targets for hackers because most wireless networks tend to be completely unsecured.
The dangerous thing about hacking is the availability of tools on the Internet that prowl the web looking for vulnerable systems. One way of preventing hackers break in to your systems is to set up firewalls and install security software. Alternatively, you can back up your data on a secure server so in case of an attack - the damage is minimal. If you have a wireless network make sure the encryption is turned on.
Spyware and adware
Keeping your personal details confidential is becoming one of the biggest problems in recent times. Spyware is software that displays advertisements (often these are pop-ups) but also secretly collects your personal details as you enter them on your computer. But they can also affect the way your computer behaves causing it to crash or damage your data as viruses do.
Unfortunately, no Spyware detection tool is completely foolproof but one option would be to download anti Spyware or adware software. The most well known of these are Microsoft Windows Anti Spyware, Ad-adware or Spybot which searches for spyware, immunises your PC and alerts you as well!
