Cybercriminals sometimes register web addresses (also called "domain names" or "URLs") that are similar to the web addresses of popular websites or are common misspellings of popular websites.

For example, instead of www.microsoft.com, cybercriminals might create a web page with the address:

• www.micrsoft.com

• www.micosoft.com

• www.mircosoft.com

Scammers register these web addresses in order to compete with popular sites or to earn money through advertisements. If you enter an incorrect web address, you might be taken to a place where you'll see an ad for the site you really wanted. But if you click that ad, you might get to where you want to go, but you might also help scammers earn money, which in turn might increase the cost of merchandise from the scammed company.

In addition to getting others to make money for them, typosquatters and cybersquatters can download malicious software programs and spyware onto the unprotected computers of people who visit their sites.

The United States and other countries have passed legislation to help challenge cybersquatting registration. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has also made efforts to remedy the situation, but cybersquatters are still out there.

To read the rest of the article and learn how the latest version of Internet Explorer can help protect you from this threat click here.

You've set up a data backup and recovery plan for your business. Great! After you've made sure your critical business information is secure in the event of a disruption, what other things should you do to prepare your business for a disaster or crisis? Here's a list of some good questions to ask and steps to take.

What Possibilities Could You Face?

 A good first step is to try to predict what kind of business disruptions you are most likely to face. For instance, any office could be damaged by fire, but is your business more likely to experience a hurricane than a tornado? Are you in an area that is subject to blizzards, flooding, or other weather damage? How could this disrupt your business? Once you have identified the threats, it's easier to determine the best steps to take.

Who Needs to Be Notified?

Next, put together a list of people both inside and outside your organization who need to be involved (or at least notified) in the event of an emergency. What employees, clients, vendors, and associates would need to be informed? Could products or services be supplied directly by a manufacturer for a short period while you regroup? Make a call list of everyone who needs to be included in your communication, with copies both inside and outside the office, and go over it with your staff so that expectations and responsibilities are clear to everyone. Keeping in contact with your customers and suppliers about your status will go a long way as you get up and running again.

What About Power?

With a natural disaster such as a tornado or flood, you need to plan for long-term power outages.  Consider how long your business could survive without power and determine whether your office needs a simple UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) or a back-up generator.  A UPS can keep your computers running for a limited time and then allow them to power down safely.  A generator is designed to supply power during a black-out, the right generator can keep your entire business running as long as fuel is available.  These are just a few key steps in keeping your business running after a crisis or disaster.