A Hacker's Guide to Small Business Security
A Home Business Article Contributed by K. Anne Brauer
Computing Security for Your Small Business
If you aren't concerned about the security of the technology that supports your small business, you may not have it for long. Hackers and Tech-nerds gone bad are working away 24/7 in dark basement rooms creating password keys, worms and viruses and setting them loose on the rest of the computer-using world.
It's fallacy, however, to think that these tools stay in the hands of the super-tech contingent -- with peer-to-peer technology seemingly one step ahead of legal challenges to it, and email replacing snail mail at breakneck pace, these bugs spread lightning fast. As a small business owner you don't need the security barriers of the National Security Agency, but there's no reason to be lax either.
Firewalls and Antivirus Programs are Key to Small Business Security
'Penny smart, Pound stupid' is the proverb hackers probably use for small business owners who save money by skipping purchases on firewalls and virus protection programs. Don't get smug yet -- this also applies to those who spring for the antivirus program but then let the online update feature expire and don't renew it.
The virus and worm landscape is constantly changing, and companies like Symantec, the creator of the well-known Norton family of antivirus and firewall products, have huge numbers of full-time staffers whose only job is to try to stay on top of the constant wave of new threats.
Keep on Top of New Small Business Security Threats
But there's more than just antivirus software you need to keep on top of. Register for email security alerts if they are offered by reputable companies whose products you use. Don't register for any alerts or newsletters from companies whose names you don't recognize - do your research if you need to. The creators of pop-up advertisements would probably be second only to hackers and virus-creators if Dante's Inferno were given a modern reworking for the 21st century.
They've gotten very good at making these pop up windows look just like legitimate warning signs. Know the difference, or you may end up in an online wormhole, shuttled between websites you don't want to view, and on the wild ride you may contract computer viruses even though you were just trying to protect your system against them.
In addition, download the latest security patches for any program installed on your computer as they become available. Many of these are geared toward small business owners, with increased security and functionality relevant to the concerns of this growing segment of technology users. I run my PC on Microsoft Windows, and I tend to download security patches regularly because Windows needs more patches than the Titanic to keep steaming along.
The folks at Microsoft are constantly at work patching up problems and spotting future snags, so the least I can do is download them when they become available.
Like any organization system a small business owner implements, keeping security up to date is only effective if it's consistently maintained. Schedule time in your calendar to check for patches, download security updates, and renew security subscriptions just the way you would schedule in quarterly meetings or client presentations. It's that important.
