| Security Tips For your Small Business |
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| Written by Shawn Craine (Web Production Intern) | |
| Thursday, 05 June 2008 16:57 | |
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Scan for Adware at least once per month A program that specifically scans for adware can be a great tool to have for any business. Programs such as Ad-Aware and Spybot-Search and Destroy can search for any registry changes that may be caused by adware or spyware. These programs may be able to find additional adware and spyware that do not show up in your Anti-Virus program. The best part is, both of these programs are absolutely free. Watch for “Click Here for $$$” advertisements on web pages If you see an ad that tells you it’s going to give you a ton of money, stay far, far away! About the only prize you can receive from one of these ads is a slow PC full of adware. Not cool! Don’t make your password “password” You should NEVER make your password “password” or something similar to a default password. I definitely agree that passwords can be the most annoying things in the world to have to remember, but they are very important to keeping your data safe. Taping them to the front of your monitor or hiding them under the keyboard may help you to remember what they are, but isn’t much of a data theft deterrent. Download password saver. So with a little common sense and a few pieces of software, you can keep your business and your data more secure! Encrypt the data on your laptop Losing a laptop with important information on it can be a daunting thought. Encrypting the data on your laptop can be extremely helpful in both keeping your data safe as well as giving you a peace of mind. Click Here for a full step-by-step on how to encrypt your important data. Anti-Virus Software Having a properly updated Anti-Virus program on your PC is crucial these days. Most Anti-Virus programs such as Norton Anti-Virus, Trend Micro, McAfee, and AVG all do updates daily in the background, so you don’t have to worry about it. Without an Anti-Virus program, accidentally opening the wrong attachment, or clicking on the wrong pop-up on a website, may open the door for spyware, adware, malware, and viruses to take over your PC. Teach employees to safely use email The first rule of thumb is never open suspicious or unsolicited attachments. Avoid responding in any way to spam, especially links that claim you will be removed from the spammer's list. Make wireless networks secure Because wireless networks use radio links instead of cables, they are more vulnerable to hackers. Encryption technologies such as Wi-Fi Protected Access can help. Beware of who's using your PCs Not all computer problems originate outside. Many start with unauthorized use of computers inside a business. Guard your PCs in secure areas and use password protection if possible. Back up important files. No system is completely secure. If you have important files stored on your computer, copy them onto a removable disc, and store them in a secure place in a different building than your computer. If a different location isn't practical, consider encryption software. Encryption software scrambles a message or a file in a way that can be reversed only with a specific password. Also, make sure you keep your original software start-up disks handy and accessible for use in the event of a system crash. |