Remote Working makes UK Firms Vulnerable to Online Attacks, Says Webroot

According to the latest research released on April 27, 2010 by the leading Internet security provider Webroot, around 98% organizations permit their workforce to distantly access their networks, which exposes them to cyber assaults.

Webroot found that in 2009, of ten UK-based companies, eight received one or more than one cyber attacks through the Internet.

Some of the threats and scenarios related to cyber crime include: Web 2.0, peer to peer, phishing attacks wherein fake e-mails were used to procure sensitive personal credentials to accomplish unlawful motives, social networking websites like instant messages.

Further, DoS (denial-of-service) attacks made on government and corporate systems that result in the loss of critical data and productivity as well as viruses and malware crafted to lead to unwanted effects on the systems are also among the risks.

Also, often these Internet fraudsters pack malicious software with social engineering techniques aiming to induce users to do unusual activities. Facebook Applications are the best examples citing this case.

As warned by Gerhard Eschelbeck, CTO, Webroot, employees are unintentionally exposing their employers to the risk of mounting menace of Web-based malware, for highly relying on the Internet to perform their routine business operations, as per the news published by NETWORKWOLD on April 29, 2010.

Eschelbeck further added that firm is noticing that businesses are coming forth to draft security strategies which enforce Internet usage policies more stringently backed by the execution of Web security solutions.

Furthermore, as noted by the survey, nearly 72% of the businesses in UK use online collaboration tools and Web 2.0 applications in their day-to-day operations. Such a growth in the usage of Web 2.0 is reflected from the growing Web threats.

Meanwhile, other findings of the research include access to Web-based activities or some particular websites is banned by 95% of the firms surveyed, while 88% of the companies have formal Internet policy. Access to gambling websites while at work was quite a problematic issue for UK firms, and hence, 80% of the surveyed firms now ban access to these sites. Compared to merely 12% in the US, 21% firms in the UK faced problems from online gambling.

Related article: Remote Workers Not Concerned About Security Threats

» SPAMfighter News - 5/11/2010