Are Your Employees Jeopardizing Your Security?

Companies who rely on specialized security software to protect their IT infrastructure take note: you may still be leaving yourself vulnerable to attack.

According to an article by Dawn Kawamoto on CNET News.com, security technology may be getting more sophisticated, but employees - the last line of defense against viruses and other security threats - are not. Security experts, she says, often pinpoint PC users as the weakest link in the security chain, and technology can only go so far to protect a network.

The article cites a recent study which indicates that almost half of companies surveyed don't provide their employees with enough formal security training. John Thompson, CEO of security software provider Symantec, told Kawamoto that failing to train employees is akin to putting a lock on your home but failing to lock it.

"[I]f you, a user, do not facilitate the process, or lock the door when you walk out of your house, having the technology installed is of no value," he said in the article. "And so the process starts with first having you be aware of how you secure your home, what threats you need to protect yourself from."

Kawamoto's article offers the following basic advice for beefing up security:
Change passwords frequently;
Beware e-mail attachments;
Read e-mail in plain text;
Be suspicious of e-mails that lure you to a Web site;
Use a browser that prevents pop-ups;
Be careful where you use your computer and don't open it in front of others;
Be aware of anyone trying to enter your company's premises without proper ID, and;
Learn who to inform if you spot a security breach.

To read the full article, click here: http://news.com.com/
The+weakest+security+link%3F+It%27s+you/2100-7355_3-5278576.html .