Small businesses are constantly under threat from online fraudsters; a recent study in America by security specialist AVG found that 25% of small-to-medium sized businesses have been subject to an attack from cyberspace.
Internet security provides an essential last line of defence. If a hacker or spammer gets access to your details, or causes your essential systems to shut down, you could lose thousands of pounds in maintenance and downtime – and your business may never recover.
The
basics
Internet security isn’t particularly costly or complicated. It basically revolves around three principal tools: a firewall, a pop-up blocker and an antivirus software suite.
Firewall
In essence, a firewall acts as a barrier for your computer, allowing ‘safe’ sites to pass through while blocking dodgy ones. It also provides a single line of defence for your entire company, protecting each of your computers against attack.
You can configure your firewall to provide specific levels of security and access; if you think certain sites are potentially damaging, or distracting (such as Facebook) you can block them, and allow some employees greater internet freedom than others.
You have to download a firewall from the internet, but there are lots of places to get one free. You can get more information from cnet.com and download.com.
The pop-up blocker
The pop-up blocker, as its name would suggest, blocks pop-ups – irritating adverts which can slow your computer down, and even run unwanted processes on your computer if you get the ‘close’ and ‘continue’ buttons mixed up (which is very easy to do).
It’s very easy to get your hands on a pop-up blocker. Companies such as Google and Yahoo offer them free as part of their toolbar, and Internet Explorer also has a built-in pop-up defence tool. You can also download reliable products from the likes of CNET.
Anti-virus software
When you run an anti-virus check on your computer, your anti-virus software will comb your entire system for undetected viruses, and notify you whenever it finds anything.
The anti-virus software won’t just detect an actual virus; it will also notify you of regular files, which are infected by the virus. You can instruct the software to clean any regular files which are infected, and destroy the files which are, clearly, just viruses. Or you can quarantine a file if you want more information.
Lots of companies provide effective anti-virus software, including AVG, Norton, Kaspersky and McAfee.
Need to know
Even if you install top-notch security software, your system may still be at risk if you, or your staff, fail to treat the internet with care and maturity.
- Here are some useful tips to create a secure culture regarding the internet:
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If in doubt, don’t. If you’re not sure whether to view or download something, don’t do it.
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Be wary of updates. If a message pops up alerting you to a free software update, do some research on the software, and the company providing it. Don’t download it without checking.
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Make passwords strong and unique. The longer and more obscure your password, the harder it will be to hack. Any time you’re asked to create a password, choose a completely new one.
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Keep passwords secret. Many people write their password on a post-it note, and stick it on their desk or computer – make sure no-one in your company is doing this.
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Protect personal details. If an e-mail or pop-up window asks you to disclose your personal details, don’t – you should never give out personal information online.
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Do regular checks. Set up your anti-virus software to ‘sweep’ your network on a regular basis, so viruses are never allowed to fester.
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Secure mobile devices. If your employees use blackberries, tablets or PDAs, it’s wise to install specialist security solutions for these devices – mobile technology is a key point of weakness for many companies.
Advice and support
Lots of companies run technical advice centres online, so if you’re not sure about something, you should be able to find the answer on the internet.
If you want to assess the state of your company’s defences, AVG’s new Online Security Audit, specifically designed for small-to-medium sized firms, provides an excellent tool. Go to the company website (www.avg.com) for more information.