The number of high-profile occurrences of data breaches this year should serve as a warning to small businesses about the damage that occurs when a data security leak happens not just to your business transactions, but also to your reputation.
One of the most imposing risks for small businesses come from spyware and its supposedly less harmful cousin, adware. These discreet applications are overwhelming networks everywhere and stealing sensitive, personal information, while enabling identity theft and tracking online information.
Spyware is the term used for a program that is unknowingly installed on a computer that covertly monitors the activity on your computer, gathering personal information and monitoring Internet behavior. After gathering this data, spyware then transmits that information to another computer, usually for advertising purposes, but sometimes for a malicious purpose.
Still, despite the obvious risks associated with spyware, a recent report by Forrester found that 56 percent of customers could not predict what percentage of their systems was infected with spyware.
So what steps can small businesses take to guard themselves against spyware and adware? And how can they fight back? The first step is to recognize and understand what threats spyware and adware creates for small businesses.
The largest threat spyware imposes is its ability to steal sensitive personal or business-related data. But it can also pose other threats that are often overlooked:
? Privacy impact ? The obvious cost that most people consider, it indicates the extent to which it captures information about users for use by a third party.
? Network traffic impact ? Less obvious than the privacy impact, it is often more costly to a company?s success. System crashes, bogged-down Internet connections, and unusual Web browser behavior all fall into the category of performance impact.
? Employee productivity impact ? Difficult to measure in terms of financial impact, but small business employees who are constantly fighting spyware and adware on their systems are less productive. Often PCs are replaced if spyware is not identified as the problem, adding to the cost
Furthermore, adware is often more predominant in a small business than spyware. Similar to spyware, some forms of adware will install themselves without any human interaction. Adware can risk the disclosure of confidential data by unknowingly redirecting individuals to ?look-alike? Web sites. While it is less harmful, it is constantly eating up network traffic in order to pull down graphical ads. So, small business owners should also consider adware as a potential source of network impact.
It?s often difficult to eradicate spyware from your system. But there are steps small businesses can take to drastically reduce the financial impact caused by malicious spyware. Obvious steps include installing an antivirus solution, securing encrypted Internet connections, implementing more restrictive Web browser settings, and disabling the acceptance of third party cookies. But to deal with Spyware?s hidden costs, small business owners should consider the following steps:
? Keep your computers current with the latest patches and updates
? Make sure your computers is configured securely
? Choose strong passwords and keep them safe
? Review bank and credit card statements regularly
Small businesses continue to be confronted with the mounting challenges posted by spyware and adware?including decreased productivity, increased breaches in privacy, and network impact?and need a solid plan to regain control of their environment and systems. Some questions to consider when developing a security plan are:
? What is our normal bandwidth usage? Examining your bandwidth usage and understanding when spikes occur that are not consistent can help you determine when threats are elevated.
? Are we scanning our system regularly? Conducting full system scans can identify and quarantine spyware and adware that are known to be malicious before they get out of hand.
? Does our staff understand the difference between spyware and adware? Hold classes to instruct users on the difference between these two classifications of programs.
? Do we have a company policy for software installation?
As dependence on technology grows, developing a plan to combat spyware and adware is crucial. The financial consequences to a company?s brand integrity and trust in the marketplace should a system breach occur are enormous.
Spyware doesn?t have to be a problem, but you need to take proper steps to protect your small business and ensure the security of your sensitive information. |
