You might think that Fortune 500 companies and government agencies are bulletproof when it comes to protecting their information. But the recent revelation that at least 250 Fortune 500 companies and 27 of 55 government agencies had at least one computer infected with DNS Changer shows that even the biggest organizations are vulnerable to information theft.
DNS Changer is a type of malware that widely affected computers in the U.S. and around the world. It allows criminals to redirect users from a safe website to an insecure webpage, leaving the user's information exposed. As you can imagine, stories like this become even more troubling for business owners, who are also charged with protecting clients' information, as well as their own.
The lesson here is that if the world's largest organizations can be attacked by these types of malware, so can yours. It's just another reminder that regularly running security updates to make sure all of your organization's computers are protected is essential.
It's important to note that protecting your computers doesn't have to be expensive. You might have your programs of choice that you are already using, but there are several free programs that can help keep you secure:
Qualys BrowserCheck: This program can help you identify any security issues related to your browser and lead you through the steps to remedy the issue.
DNS Changer Working Group (DCWG): This nonprofit group as put together a site to help you identify whether you've been affected by the DNS Charger or other malware, and will help you remedy the problem if you have.
CCleaner: This program for PCs will help you clean your computer of corrupted files to protect your privacy online.
Microsoft Security Essentials is an easy-to-use free product that guards against viruses, spyware, and other evil software.
Those are just a few of the tools available that can help you prevent criminals from accessing sensitive information. Whether you're a business owner, in finance, or even in sales, if you keep client information on your computer it's imperative that you protect are aware of the potential dangers, and keep your PC secure. Remember, it's your reputation.