In an increasingly digitalized world, consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable storing sensitive information on computers, USB flash drives, and external hard drives.  This, however, creates more and more  opportunities for hackers and thieves to steal that information.  Consider the following sobering facts about data theft presented by Mark Small from TechNewsWorld: 

• In U.S. airports, business travelers lose more than 12,000 laptops per week.
• One laptop is stolen every fifty-three seconds.
• Businesses lose fifty-five billion dollars annually because of computer viruses.
• Twenty-five percent of all users experience data loss each year.

Three common situations expose consumers to data theft on a regular basis: 

1. Relying on antivirus software to update automatically in the background.  If the application expires, stops updating, or if a new update occurs between scheduled update times, you may not be protected.
2. Using free shareware antivirus programs exclusively to protect against viruses.
3. Picking up a virus on a USB drive while using a public or borrowed PC.  This often happens on a vacation or business trip, which then infects your personal PC.

Better protection is provided in these situations by (a) buying and installing one (or more) reliable antivirus programs, (b) doing manual software updates on a regular basis, (c) encrypting your data on your USB drive to prevent virus penetration, and (d) utilizing password management tools like "Keepass" to store online logins, passwords and banking information.

At CCS, we have the expertise to help you prevent data theft in your business.  Call us at 800-672-4806 or email us for more information on safeguarding your important data.