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 Security threats are getting more complex and affect both companies and home users. Computers and various personal data processing tools and their operating systems change rapidly. Altogether, these computers, different operating systems and personal handheld devices form numerous different combinations, which are vulnerable to viruses, hacking and service denial attacks. The known virus base now amounts to some 80,000. Attacks making use of open source code, attacks to home computers and virus outbreaks in the Linux environment are now part of everyday life. In January 2003 the Slammer virus slowed down the Internet by as much as 25% by generating a huge amount of network traffic. It even managed to completely stop the Internet traffic to some countries. The virus caused one of most significant attacks against the Internet this far.
Originally, data security products were developed for the needs of business users, but as computers and broadband connections are getting more common at homes as well, also home users require security applications. Companies offering data security must be able to respond to changing threats swiftly and to manage ever more complex systems. Awareness of the necessity of data security has increased along with various attacks, but computer users must keep their systems, skills and knowledge up-to-date both in business and at home.
In 80 countries round the world, there are now nearly 3 million computer users, who have passed the "computer driving license" test. The Swedish Information Processing Society has set up a committee to discuss data security training and data maintenance from the point of view of data security experts. After the collection of basic material the project will expand into a data security certification; this training is expected to spread to other Scandinavian countries and also to the rest of Europe through national information processing associations.
This issue of Protected focuses on data security in different types of business environments and Linux systems.
Jaana Sirkiä, editor-in-chief
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Global data security threats are increasing, and it is a challenge to keep abreast with them. Data security should be just as self-evident in a company as locked doors and windows. Antivirus protection, secure connections, file encryption and protection against hackers are data security issues that must be dealt with. If the size of the company, or other reasons, do not allow the company to hire a specialist of its own, a recommended solution is to purchase data security as service.
Linux is a free Unix-type operating system that can be downloaded free of charge from the Internet. What does this mean security-wise when the threats in the Internet are more and more complicated? Is the operating system safe from viruses?
The business is in the networks. More and more people are connected and the tools for hacking into servers are easier to use and more widely available. Is the network safe?
More and more people work from home and every 13th household in Europe has a broadband connection. Are you aware of the threats, and how Internet service providers can serve you?
F-Secure provides encryption to the US Internal Revenue Service. The F-Secure® FileCrypto™ product is used to protect and encrypt confidential data such as taxpayer information on laptops and desktops. F-Secure was the first company in the world to be granted FIPS 140-2 certification for its security technology.
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