Dave's Guide to Insecurity
 

(Don't) Download and install untested freeware and shareware from the internet.
   Along with that nifty mouse cursor, screensaver, or "must-have" utility, you may also be installing malicious code such as adware, spyware, and keyloggers which will slow down your computer, report back to someone about the sites you visit, and maybe even steal your bank account or credit card numbers and passwords. Not much risk here, right?
   There are some internet sites that can help you determine the safety and stability of shareware and freeware. Feel free to contact me with your questions, or visit Tucows, a reputable site that carefully checks its shareware, freeware and trial/demo software for viruses, adware and spyware.  You should remember, though, that the safety of all software, commercial or share/freeware or open source, cannot be guaranteed.


(Don't) Use your office computer to swap music and other files with strangers.
   You may want to look closely at the multi-page license agreements that accompany many of these "free" music and file swapping sites and see what you are actually giving them "license" to do to you!  Licenses of some popular peer-to-peer file-sharing programs stretch to as long as 22,000+ words and 180+ on-screen pages, according to Ben Edelman, a well-known researcher of adware and spyware.  Installing one program frequently leads to the installation of an entire chain of other programs you might not want.  Always think before you install something, weigh the risks and benefits, and be aware of the fine print.


(Don't) Open e-mail, with or without attachments, from unknown senders.
   That cute e-greeting card from someone you don't (or do) know can lead to even more spam or worse. The mere act of opening some e-mails can trigger the execution of malicious content or send a reply to the spammer if your e-mail client settings are not properly configured.


(Don't) Neglect the backup of your data.
   You've never lost any data files, have you? Could you run your business totally from memory? Do you know how much each of your clients owes you, exactly what they've ordered, and when they expect their next product delivery? And you also know exactly how much you owe your suppliers, and when they need to receive your payment before putting your supply chain in jeopardy, right? Of course, the IRS, state and local tax agencies will all happily accept your estimated income as solid fact - not!

Back to checklist

(Don't) Use the same simple password for everything.
   Don't bother using a log-on password for your computer, and use the same password for your on-line banking as you use for your email account. And since passwords are easy to forget, just use the name of your child or spouse or pet or one of your hobbies (something easily guessed about you), and by all means write it down on a yellow sticky note that you can put on your monitor or under your keyboard where you (and everyone else) can find it. Oh, yes, and use the same password for the computer that runs your business accounting software as everyone else uses for their office computers.
   Remembering passwords can be a real pain, but it's nothing compared to the problems you could face trying to pay bills from an empty checking account, or notifying all of your California customers that the security of their personally identifiable account information on your computer may have been compromised.


(Don't) Visit that funny non-business web site a friend sent you via email.
   Go ahead, don’t worry that the site might silently install tracking software or other malicious software that will result in even more spam in your mailbox. Oh, and if the humor is racially or sexually offensive, be sure to share it with others in your office, just so you can experience firsthand what a sexual harassment or hostile work environment lawsuit is like.


(Don't) Use the cheapest multi-outlet power strip you can find.
   Remember those California rolling black-outs a few summers ago?  They were always announced and scheduled well in advance, weren't they? And they'll never happen to us again, right?
   Plugging your summer fan (or space heater in San Francisco!) into the same wall outlet as your computer power strip, and running it at its highest speed or temperature setting could end up tripping a circuit breaker or blowing a fuse. Are the power cords getting warm to the touch? If so, you're probably overloading the circuit, which could result in a fire hazard.


(Don't) Ignore maintenance for your computer.
   Dust-clogged power supplies and air vents, layers of heat-trapping dust on the main logic board or interface cards, dust accumulations at the floppy drive slot, and out-of-date anti-virus and anti-spyware definitions (or having none at all) are great ways to turn your investment in a computer into an expensive lump of metal and plastic.