IT Professionals Apprehend Web 2.0 Security Risks

According to Webroot, a security vendor, IT professionals in SMBs believe that malicious software disseminated through Web 2.0 applications, social-networking websites and other mediums related to the Web will prove severest in terms of security risk to data during 2010.

The prediction is based on a fresh poll of 803 IT professionals working in organizations having employee strength of 100-5,000 in Australia, Britain and the U.S.

The study reveals that for 80% of survey participants, Web 2.0 applications will pose a serious trouble during 2010. According to 7 of 10 participants, it is harder to manage Web-based threats compared to e-mail-based threats. The survey also reveals that IT managers regard data confidentiality and security to be other key areas of security concern for SMBs during 2010.

Furthermore, threats exploiting security flaws in software, Web 2.0 applications and browsers serve as a considerable threat to SMBs.

The security firm additionally stated that 25% of organizations suffered data compromise because of employees who surfed on social networking websites from company's PCs. 32% respondents admitted that workers downloading media was responsible for security problems, while 23% regarded staff's private accounts on Web-mail services as the root cause of attacks. COMPUTERWORLD reported this during the third week of February 2010.

Moreover, almost two-third of respondents stated that viruses had attacked their companies, whereas spyware affected 57% of companies and SQL-Injection attacks targeted 32% of companies' websites.

Remarking about these observations, Chief Technology Officer Gerhard Eschelbeck at Webroot stated that all sizes of organizations were becoming aware that there were security threats hanging on within the Web's new domains like Web 2.0 sites. Infosecurity.com published this on February 22, 2010.

Eschelbeck added that Webroot found its own customers (50%) limiting worker access to websites for social networking so that data compromises, malware infections along with detrimental effects on productivity could be prevented.

Finally, Webroot reported that it's persuading SMBs to remain up-to-date with current threat mediums by making use of a service that blocks Web-based threats automatically. This service, which scans online traffic as well as implements Internet use rules, is particularly helpful since SMBs have relatively low levels of protection.

Related article: ID Theft Victims Will Double In Next Four Years

» SPAMfighter News - 3/1/2010