IT security threats have
their analogies
Two factors make IT criminal activity different:
1. Criminal can attempt to open "front door" (or make
a back door) to your information while sitting anywhere in the world;
2. Criminal can attack thousands (actually hundreds of thousands)
of computers automatically in short period of time, automated hacking
tools are widely available.
Just imagine burglar that capable of probing
every door in entire town without leaving comfort of chair?
But why, for god sake, do you need all this
Internet security in your home office? No one is going to steal
your e-mails and kids' school projects anyway. You do not store
credit card details on PC, You do not have cash locked on hard drive,
maybe accounts details in Quicken or MYOB somewhere.
You are right.
Almost right.
You
have your computer as well. So it could be hijacked.
Check some ideas how to
protect against computer hijacking.
Other
precious article to steal from your PC is your identity.
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Direct
losses
A lot of small businesses depend on computers
and data stored on computers.
Accountant, architect or solicitor could use computer as a working
tool. Virus, hacker’s back door or denial of service attack
(when your Internet access is made inoperative) could disrupt operation
of this tool and damage critical business data.
Indirect
losses
Business reputation could be harmed if clients would
discover that their information is poorly protected.
Privacy
requirements
In addition to all those dangers that awaits
every one on the Net, such as computer
hijacking, identity theft,
productivity and indirect business
losses, business in Australia has legal obligation to keep securely
all personal data it has. Some small businesses with turnover less
than 3 million dollars do not have to comply with the Federal
Privacy Act. States have their own privacy legislation (State
of Victoria has Information
Privacy Act).
Damage to the business as the result of simple security
breach could be simply devastating.
How much would it all together cost compare to entire year of anti virus
software maintenance and firewall monitoring?
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