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What is IT Security?
Simply put, IT Security is the ongoing process of defending your network and data from:
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data lost due to misplaced laptops or smartphones
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malicious software (malware) such as virues, Trojans, rootkits and backdoors
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opportunistic hackers who are scanning for networks with open doors
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determined hackers who have set out to invade your systems
To quote some statistics:
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48% of reported data loss/theft incidents are experienced by businesses.
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33% of data loss/theft incidents results from lost or stolen laptops, computers and removable media such as backup tapes, USB sticks & CD/DVDs, most of which have been left with little or no protection or encryption.
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16% of data loss/theft incidents results from a direct hack, usually perpetrated over the web.
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in 2003 there were approximately 60 000 known viruses. In 2007 that number had grown to circa 114,000. By the end of 2011 it is estimated to reach 1,200,000.
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2% of reported incidents are malware related but that number is growing due to "phishing" malware attacks such as the Fake-AV Trojan for Windows and the MacDefender Trojan for Macs.
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in 2007 TJX, parent company of TK Maxx, paid out $118 million in compensation and technology upgrades after their wireless network being broken into allowing malicious software to be installed on their servers
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for only €100 you can buy your own Trojan, called the Solitude RAT, with annual support and free upgrades, note that using it on third parties would be illegal. **Use at your own risk**
sources: datalossdb.org | theregister.co.uk/2003/10/06/linux_vs_windows_viruses | computerweekly.com 06/08/08 | uk.reuters.com 12/04/11
