Virus season is here. Just as you take measures to avoid catching the flu, take measures to avoid catching a computer virus. During the holiday season, it is a good time to remind your employees that holiday emails might contain pictures that are trying to trick you into following hyperlinks or downloading files that could lead to the direct infection of your system. The most common way viruses are spread through the internet is through email. Make sure your company uses an email client that scans all email attachments before you are allowed to open them. This will help prevent computer viruses from getting a foothold on your business.

The risk of your network getting infected by a virus is greater than ever. The damage caused by an infection can range from a minor annoyance to a catastrophe. The hacker's goal is to get you to act before you think. The old wisdom continues to ring true: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Every business owner should be aware of common ways that malicious code can reach your private network. Along with email attachments, be cautious when following web links to domain names you don't generally recognize.

Not following security guidelines and policies is probably the most significant cause of how malicious code reaches your private network.  If a worker fails to abide by the company security policy, they put themselves and the entire organization at risk. Use automated tools to detect and defend your network.  And encourage your employees to use common sense. 

If you have questions about your anti-virus software, please contact me to see if your company qualifies for a no-cost mini site audit.