If you’ve ever used the Internet, you know that it can be rife with great information and resources covering just about every subject you could think of. Unfortunately, the Internet can also, at times, be a sort of “Wild West” for modern day society. Viruses, spyware, and hackers can lurk behind seemingly friendly websites, and strike unsuspecting or unprepared users with ease. If you think your business has been exposed to a virus or spyware and you need IT network support, click here.

Spyware, in particular, can be especially worrisome for businesses that depend on their data being safe. Spyware allows hackers to collect information automatically from infected computers, often without any indication that there is anything wrong. Businesses and their employees can take some simple steps to avoid this hazard.

The first defense against spyware is to train your employees on good Internet-use policies. Using the Internet in the workplace should be very different from using it at home. Businesses can enforce policies with firewalls and anti-virus software. These tools allow a business owner to not only control their Internet connection, but to also monitor it for unwelcome traffic.

If your business uses social media, assign a “Social Media Manager”. Allowing one or two employees to have access to sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Yelp (for business purposes) can greatly cut down the amount of viruses and spyware on your network. Social media is one of the top places to pick up an infection and without the proper IT network security in place, you risk losing valuable data, time and productivity.

These are just a few simple steps that can be taken to help your employees avoid harmful spyware and viruses. Call Syndeo Communications, a trusted San Diego computer consulting company, to see if your network is at risk for spyware or viruses, and we will be happy to work with you on securing your network and your business.