The real threat of viruses and spyware

Viruses and spyware can bring your laptop to a grinding halt. Think that’s the extent of it? Think again. Most spyware is designed to record your surfing habits by sampling files and history on your machine and then sending the results to a remote location for analysis. Some virus infections can corrupt and destruct your data. Another breed of viruses steals your data and spies on your daily activities. It allows a hacker to log everything you type, see your computer screen, watch your web camera, browse and copy your files, and more! Computerworld’s Jeremy Kirk explains that, “A 10-month cyber espionage investigation has found that 1,295 computers in 103 countries belonging to international institutions have been spied on” (read the full article here). Kirk references a 53-page report published March 29, 2009, titled “Tracking GhostNet: Investigating a Cyber Espionage Network.” This report describes the GhostNet network that “primarily uses a malicious software program called ghostRAT (Remote Access Tool) to steal sensitive documents, control Web cams and completely control infected computers.” GhostNet represents just one example of the millions of cyber threats that exist today. As the risks increase, it’s crucial for you to implement small business and enterprise solutions, including antivirus and anti-spyware tools, to serve as a solid protection for your business.