New technology creates new security threats

It used to be that someone stealing your internet for a free connection was all you had to worry about when it came to protecting your computer. Then, stealing data become the popular thing to do. Now, attackers are even able to maliciously modify data. All of a sudden someone using your internet connection for free seems just a little silly compared to someone changing an electronic medication order on a hospital network and killing patients. Just as technology has become more advanced and efficient, so have the people who want to get a hold of that sensitive information.

These new technologies offer new ways for people to access your personal information.

Mobile Devices
I bet you never thought you could be hacked right from your phone, did you? These devices have become everyday accessories for business professionals. This means that there are personal emails, documents, contact information, and other personal and work related information stored on them. Many of these phones have more memory than most computers did in the 1990s. The problem is that many of these phones are not configured to require a password to start the system and the data on them is not encrypted or protected in any way.

Green Computing
Recycling – typically a good thing. But when it comes to disposing of your computer parts, there are some precautionary measures you should consider first. By recycling hard drives you could literally be giving away your private/personal information to anyone who stumbles upon it. Just deleting files doesn’t ensure that the data is actually gone.

Windows vs. other operating systems
The perception that many have of Windows operating systems is that it is are vulnerable to more viruses and attacks than Linux or Macintosh. But are these alternatives really more secure? Currently Windows has 91% of the desktop OS market. Most computer hackers aren’t stupid and don’t want to invest time in creating the bugs and virus for an OS that wouldn’t bring widespread damage to multiple computers. It’s just a hunch, but I bet if Mac or Linux held more of the market share we’d see more security risks and threats on these systems. So, as Mac and Linux become more popular, hackers could be spending more time creating attacks on them.

To read about more security threats that are becoming more prevalent, check out an article by TechRepublic.