IT Staff Snoop At Your Confidential Data

It has been found in a survey conducted by Cyber Ark Software UK that many IT professionals take help of their administrative password to access personal information, like emails, pay scale and confidential files of human resources.

Approximately, 200 IT workers said during the survey that it was against the company's rule to use systems after resignation. Further, the research also viewed that over 25% of participants knew many IT staff that still have an access to the systems even though they had left their jobs months ago.

The survey also points to the negligence on the part of the companies in saving these passwords in an appropriate location and lack of control in controlling usage of these important codes.

It was shocking to note, from the survey, that 50 PC of network users including IT workers were saving their confidential password on Post- It notes. Furthermore, these users store their administrative password of the entire network on loose paper. Interestingly, remembering password could be a tough task for the users especially when the IT security orders to change it on regular intervals. In spite of this, 20% of organizations rarely change their password and 7PC claims that they have never changed their password.

18 % of companies save their administrative password on Microsoft Excel, 57% save it manually and 82% of IT workers store them in their mind- preventing efforts of security, managing, controlling, auditing of passwords, and continuing business.

European Director for Cyber- Ark, Calum Macleod, said in a statement published by Security Park on May 20, 2007, that the emergence of rife snooping is surprising. Instead of rushing to the personnel department, just an administrative password can do the task and we can get all confidential information.

Macleod, further claimed, that its high time now, and the companies should come up with more security providers, and should have a check on those who use important information, and find a way to manage and restrict password for preventing hacking, sabotage and snooping.

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

» SPAMfighter News - 6/8/2007