Cyber terrorism is making headlines, but recent publicity is just the tip of the iceberg. Many cyber attacks are kept quiet for security reasons. Millions more are never reported at all because the victims don’t even know they’ve been hit.

Public News of Cyber Attacks the Tip of the Iceberg

Just this week, Google publicly acknowledged they were struck by thieves who stole their core password system. In February came the revelation of a coordinated attack on 2500 companies in 196 countries that began back in 2008 and continued for years. Retailers are regularly attacked by thieves seeking credit card information.

Richard Clark’s book on /Cyber War/: You are on your own

Richard Clarke, noted counter-terrorism expert and advisor to several Presidents, just published /Cyber War/, which details the damage terrorists can inflict over the Internet, including disabling transportation, scrambling financial records, and knocking out power.

The Pentagon’s Cyber Command defends the military and the government.

Corporations spend billions to protect themselves. But as Clarke notes in his book, individuals and small companies are “on their own”.

Are You at Risk?

Yes, definitely. You may already be a victim. Cyber criminals want your identity and your assets, and they are increasingly after control of your computer. They can take over your home computer and use it as a zombie in a large-scale cyber attack without you even noticing. Either way, it isn’t a matter of /if/ you will be attacked, but /when/.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

Protecting your computer is like protecting your home from break-ins. A locked door is no guarantee, but it is a great first line deterrent.

Implementing a series of security measures adds layers of deterrent to make your machine less attractive to cyber criminals.

· Install security software. A firewall makes your machine invisible to other computers hooked onto the Web. You also need the best and most updated anti-virus and anti-spyware protection. PC Mac Express can advise you on the best options and can make sure everything is properly installed and regularly updated.

· Get sensitive data off your machine. Don’t store passwords, financial records, identity information, or even birthday and Christmas card lists on your computer. Do your taxes on your computer, and give a thief everything he needs to steal your identity and your assets. Store this information on a removable hard drive that is disconnected when you are online. PC Mac Express can advise you on cost-effective options that keep your data safe.

· Use extreme care online. Apps on Facebook, free music downloads, poisoned Websites, and email attachments are common ways criminals gain access to your computer. Do not trust, verify.

· Use strong passwords and protect them. Use upper and lowercase letters. Include numbers. Avoid actual words. Longer is better. Change passwords often. Never use automatic login features. Don’t store passwords on your machine.

Back up. Back up. Back up…Brush your teeth every night. Be sure to floss. And back up your computer. Online backup sites could be vulnerable in a large-scale cyber attack. A removable hard drive is a good back up to a back up. And keep paper copies of all financial statements just in case you need proof of ownership.

PC Mac Express Is Your Security Resource

If you haven’t thought about security lately, now is a good time to do so. We closely monitor this issue and keep up-to-date and the latest criminal ploys and ways to protect yourself. You may find a three-minute phone call with us could save you years of problems.