The "Heads Up" on Internet Security

"Internet security" is a buzzword we frequently see while surfing the World Wide Web but do you really understand the risk you take every time you log onto the internet?

Think of it this way - if you owned a beautiful jewelry store on a busy downtown city street and every morning you set up tables on the sidewalk laden with gold chains and diamonds, but walked back inside your store leaving your goods unattended, you would be asking for trouble, right? You basically do the same thing when you connect to the internet without some form of security measure in place to protect what you have stored in your computer. Obviously you don't have precious jewels hidden in your hard drive, but your private files contain information that is just as valuable.

Cyber Criminals Can Access Your System

When you use your computer to connect to any internal or external network it begins communicating with potentially millions of others. An unprotected computer is an open door for any intruder to enter with malicious intent or for the purpose of gathering information about you and your habits. The "cyber criminal" element is as real as the unlawful facet of society that stalks our businesses and homes. Internet security provides the barriers that prevent your computer from being hacked, corrupted and destroyed. Regardless of the level of complexity of your IT system we offer custom internet security solutions to protect your business information, private records, hardware and software.

There are a few reasons why your computer and IT system could be a target for deliberate breaches:


You have valuable industry data and trade secrets on file that can be sold illegally for profit by corporate spies or unethical employees.
Your credit card and banking information is available for thieves to access your accounts.
Valuable software and programs are stored on your system that can be copied and used unlawfully or unethically.
You have saved top secret or political information on your system that could be destroyed by cyber terrorists.
Your emails contain information that could be used to blackmail you by cyber extortionists.
Your system contains a history of your surfing (websites you visit) habits that reveal information about you that is useful in targeting you for advertising.
You are one in several billion internet users that can become a victim to malicious hackers whose intent it is to corrupt or destroy your files and operating system.

According to a leading creator of security software (AVG), Australia has the highest prevalence of cyber crime in the world, based on a study of internet users in Australia, France, the U.S., Spain, Germany, France, Brazil, Sweden, Italy and the Czech Republic. It is not certain why it happens in this country more than other nations, but it could be a consequence of Australians being more avid online users than anyone else on the globe. The fact that we fall prey to phishing, email scams and unauthorized bank transfers at an alarming rate means that our awareness of internet security must be a priority.

Electronic Infections - Worms and Viruses

A computer virus can devastate millions of computers in a very short period of time, rendering them totally useless. This can cost billions of dollars in damaged equipment and lost productivity. It's basically a small string of electronic data that piggybacks on real programs that you run in your computer. While your program is running, the virus is running and it has the chance to reproduce and corrupt whatever it touches. A virus can enter your system as an attachment to an email message or through a website. A Trojan horse is a computer program that is not what it appears to be and when it runs, it can wreak havoc such as erasing your hard drive. A worm is also a computer program that can infect other machines via computer networks and replicates rapidly doing considerable damage in various ways.

Email Scams and Phishing

In general, email scams happen because your email service is allowing messages from not-to-be-trusted sources to enter your inbox. Phishing is used to fraudulently acquire your private information through an email message from a seemingly trustworthy source. The perpetrator will send you a message using the logo and jargon from a well known business or organization requesting you to confirm or update your account information. You'll be sent to a fake website that for all intent and purposes appears to be perfectly legitimate. Your credit card information, bank account information and contact information is then harvested and used to steal your money and credit.

Adware and Spyware

The threat of viruses, worms and email scams is bad enough, but Adware and Spyware can choke whatever vitality is remaining in your computer after those three get through with it. Do you get those annoying "pop up" advertisements on your screen, even when you're not online? That's the Adware effect. There are some companies that advertise their products and services this way, often in exchange for free downloads. Spyware is used by unscrupulous companies to send you unsolicited, targeted ads. The software sends sensitive personal information including websites you visit and your usernames and passwords to third parties without your knowledge or permission. Adware and Spyware act like menaces with insatiable appetites using up your computer's energy resources, slowing down it's functionality to a snail's pace.

Identity Theft

"Pandemic proportions" is the descriptor currently being applied to the phenomenon of internet identity theft. Traditionally we think of identity theft only when a pickpocket has taken our wallet containing our driver's license and credit cards, or stolen credit card statements from our garbage container. Internet identity theft is far worse because a hacker can obtain files from your computer that contain password login information, names, addresses, banking and credit card information. It can be taken during unsecured transmissions or through malicious software that has been installed on your computer without your knowledge. The horrible truth is that if someone steals your wallet, soon after you'll know it's gone, but with internet identity theft you'll have no idea your information has been taken until serious damage has been done.

We Can Protect You from Security Breaches

Your confidence in knowing that you are secure is at the top of our agenda because cyber criminals have proven that successful attacks can be highly profitable. Unfortunately, they will always seek ways to thwart protective measures so it is our responsibility to remain vigilant and on the vanguard of internet security. The information stored on your computer and network involves the underpinnings of your ability to function and conduct business. If you suspect that your vital information is at risk, talk to us today about your concerns. We can help you implement a failsafe security solution to protect your privacy and critical data.

Adam Rippon is the owner of Sydney Technlogy Solutions, Australia's leader in managed IT solutions for small and midsize businesses.