More Free Security Software

Never make the mistake of thinking you have “solved” your security problem. Security is not a problem to solve, it’s a battle to fight each and every day. Hackers don’t take days off, and your security can’t either.

Thanks to ComputerWorld for 10 Essential (and Free!) Security Downloads for Windows that

Data Leaks from Inside Out

ComputerWorld had a great article last month about training employees not to give away company secrets. Read about stopping employees from leaking your personal data.

Almost always, employees don’t leak data on purpose. They just

Hackers Love Small Businesses

At least someone loves your small business, right? Too bad it’s a hacker.

So says Enterprise Security Today in their article “Small Business Means Big Business for Hackers.” If big businesses have problems, do small businesses have any hope?

75 Open Source Security Applications

Datamation just did a great roundup they call The Top 75 Open Source Security Apps. Five pages of applications include all areas of computer and network security utilities, from anti-virus to remote administration to password generation and many points in between.

Open Source doesn’t always mean free, but it appears

Hackers Now Attack Heads

One of the quick hits from the Symantec Internet Threat Report told me by the Symantec spokesperson was that “hackers are now spending less time attacking holes in your system and more time attacking holes in your judgment.” In other words, they’re trying to trick you rather than trick your computer.

That’s why so many more phishing attacks are hitting your inbox.

Laptop Safety Seminar – 2

We had a full house at our first Laptop Safety Seminar on Wednesday in Indianapolis. Thanks to the law firm of Baker & Daniels for hosting the event, and thanks to the vendors who sent information and door prizes, including Absolute.com and their LoJack for Laptops, Carbonite online backup service, and the Staples Business Advantage program.

Kim Brand, CEO of FileEngine, teamed up with me

Indiana Data Breach Law

Indiana just updated their laws concerning personal information loss by businesses. We’re lucky enough to have one of Baker & Daniels leading attorneys, Kevin Erdman, at our Laptop Safety Seminar to talk about the requirements for companies to report the loss of personal information to the Attorney General.

Most references agree that about half of all data breaches

Hackers Stay 90+ Days Ahead of Security Vendors

I had the pleasure of speaking to Rick Dakin, President and CEO of Coalfire Systems, Inc., the other day for a story about PCI (Payment Card Industry) audits and compliance. That story will be in my Network World Small Business Technology column in another week or so.

What really scared me were his comments

“Found” USB Drive Danger

My friend John reminded me of a security warning I’d seen last fall but had forgotten about. Hackers leave a few USB drives laying around, often in parking lots of large companies. Employees walking into the building find the USB drives and think, “cool, a free USB drive.”

Guess what really happens? The clueless user

120 Billion Spams per Day

IronPort just released their Internet Security Trends for 2008 white paper. I haven’t read it all, but the big headline in the summary says spammers send over 120 billion (with a b) messages per day. Yep, 20 spam messages for every living person on this planet.

Remember that IronPort sells spam control products,