Computer viruses are now a well documented part of the challenges that businesses face, although the information super highway has revolutionised the way that we do business these days, an inevitable part of the global access technology explosion is the exposure to virus infestation from many external and internal sources.

Viruses have now reached such a high level of sophistication that Hampshire Business Computers advocate a layered solution when dealing with virus protection. There are several entry points in and around the network that are susceptible to virus infection, the most obvious external entry point is the internet gateway where E-mail and Internet viruses most commonly gain access. Aside from this other familiar virus entry points are via floppy disks and CD's that are already infected and are then loaded onto a network PC, this also applies to USB memory sticks.

A further entry point is via technical engineers who attend site and ask to connect a laptop or PDA to the business network to upgrade, amend or repair hardware or software applications, unless the connecting node is virus free this is yet another potential cause of viral infection.

Hampshire Business Computers have a broad range of multi-layered Anti-Virus solutions to combat virus infection, HBC recommend AV applications from McAfee many of which have the ability to consistently auto-update themselves via the internet, thereby ensuring that the latest anti-virus software versions are in place. Other HBC products enforce this ruling by restricting or denying internet access unless the latest virus software updates have been applied. Anti-Virus products have traditionally been implemented on the Local Area Network, however the evolution of Firewall technology now means that anti-virus software can be applied at the Internet Gateway via the firewall, thus creating a further layer of protection and potentially preventing viruses from reaching the internal network.

For further details relating Anti-Virus solutions from HBC please click here

Spyware

Spyware is any technology that aids the gathering of information about a person or organisation without their knowledge. On the Internet Spyware is a generic range of programmes that are unknowingly loaded onto an individual's computer to secretly gather information about the user and relay it to third parties. This can be as innocent as collecting supermarket shopping lists to detect the most popular range of purchased products, or as sinister as the transfer of financial details for fraudulent use.

Spyware can gain access to a computer as a software virus or as the result of installing a new program and is commonly installed without the user's consent, as a "drive-by" download, or as the result of clicking an option in a deceptive pop-up window. Software designed to serve advertising, known as "adware", can usually be thought of as Spyware as well because it almost invariably includes components for tracking and reporting user information.

HBC can supply install and support Anti-Spyware products from McAfee to contest spyware applications and keep data safe and secure. For further details on Spyware solutions please click here