Protecting Your Business From Todays Computer Security Threats

The internet security landscape continues to evolve because the threats against computer security keep changing and adapting to the industrys defense tactics.

From computer viruses to malicious software, the methods used to launch these attacks has increased significantly over the years so staying up-to-date on the types of internet security threats and how you can protect your company against them is imperative.

Internet Security Threats: An Overview

Malicious users make a profession out of hacking and creating software that can be harmful to your security. Some of the most common internet security threats include:

Spyware. This is any software that secretly gathers information about the user while monitoring what the user is doing on the internet. Spyware transports that information to a malicious user, which can have potentially damaging consequences. Spyware applications are usually downloaded onto a computer with a freeware or shareware program. Once installed, keyloggers are used to monitor a users keystrokes and online activity which is how sensitive information, such as bank account numbers, often make their way into the wrong hands.

Malicious Software. Often known as malware or simply as a computer virus, malicious software is any type of software that is designed to penetrate or damage a computer system without the consent of the user. Because of its invasive nature, malware often jeopardizes the security of the entire system and is well worth protecting against.

Phishing. This type of internet security threat, involves a malicious user who tricks someone into giving them confidential information. More advanced malicious users will do something called pharming, which uses virus technology to attack the internet browser address bar, so the next time a website URL is typed in, the victim is directed to the criminals imposter website instead of the true website.

How to Protect Yourself

In the past, in order to protect your computer and network from malicious activity, you would have had to find a separate solution for each threat. For instance you would have had to purchase computer security software to protect against malware, as well as another solution to protect you against spyware applications.

Fortunately, today security providers like Websense offer security suites that not only protect against a variety of spyware, malware and phishing, but the software will also identify new and evolving threats.

When researching a computer security option, there are a few things you should look for before you buy. For instance, a security solution should:

Block internet threats such as malicious websites, protocols, applications etc., before they can access the internet gateway and cause damage to your system. You should also find one that will identify e-mail-borne worms in the network and present them to the administrator.

Proactively find new internet security threats. Make sure your security includes regular scanning of millions of websites so you can stay ahead of the game when new threats arise.

Monitor activity on e-mail, IM attachments and file transfers to identify threats that could result in intellectual property theft.

Watch your web server closely and alerts you to possible vulnerabilities.

Immediately report web server attacks to the administrator and include information about the type of attack while providing recommended actions.

With the right information and resources, you will have the knowledge you need to make an informed decision regarding a computer security solution that works for your organization.

About the Author: Chip Epps is the Senior Product Marketing Manager of Websense, Inc. He is responsible for providing strategic marketing direction for Websense products, and evangelizing the effectiveness of its security solutions including Websense Web Security Suite and Websense Express. He is also responsible for developing and directing go-to-market activity (working with local marketing teams and partners) to achieve planned business objectives and growth. Chip writes informational online articles sharing his knowledge and expertise in the fields of software, engineering, internet security and more. For more information about Websense, visit Websense.com

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