Are You Really Secure?
Your Computer Network May
Be A Target for Intruders
There is probably no other
event that is more devastating or more embarrassing
to a company than a significant security breach.
Unfortunately, this kind of exposure is a lot
more likely than fire, flood or a plane landing
hard on your roof.
Almost daily, news reports tell of new attacks
or security breaches of company computer networks,
providing unnerving proof that security threats
are advancing in speed, sophistication and potency.
Some of the external problems
that pose a rising threat to businesses include:
Criminals
Working with Computer Hackers
Authorities have seen an increase in cases where
hackers steal corporate data and then attempt
to blackmail companies.
Hacker
Community More Efficient
Hacking tools and shared experiences are readily
available for hackers to quickly improve their
skills. Time between the recognition of software
vulnerabilities to actual attack is shortening.
Access
by Competitors
Unauthorized persons illegally hack into one of
your computer systems to access data for competitive
advantage.
Denial
of Service Attacks (DOS)
DOS is still a very popular means to disrupt networks.
Frequency is unchanged from 2005, but size of
the attacks are a new concern. A very small number
are reported to law enforcement, largely because
companies want to avoid negative press coverage.
Bots
Bot-infected computers receive and respond to
commands from other remote computers. Bot attackers
use malicious software like viruses to seize control,
launch further attacks and generate spam.
Worms,
Viruses and Security Holes
- Hijacking Websites
Attackers hijack
websites to host malware and then lure users
through scam instant messages or
e-mails.
- E-mail Attachments
Attackers e-mail a malicious document and trick
the victim into clicking on the attachment.
- Software Flaws
Bugs exploit vulnerabilities in older versions
of software that have not been upgraded.
This is just the short list.
The bottom line is that malicious elements are
advancing at a faster pace than companies can
address their network vulnerabilities.
IT infrastructure risks,
both technological and human, must be known and
minimized. If the safeguards fail, a planned recovery
process is critical.
Way deep down, if you have
this nagging question: "Could someone penetrate
and disable our systems and networks?” It’s time
to act.
Security is always a balance
between safety and inconvenience.
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