Industry news

Small data network 'still criminals' target'

New research has suggested small and medium-sized businesses are the target of cyber-criminals, despite their size.

Computer software firm McAfee surveyed 500 IT decision-makers from firms with 1,000 to 2,000 employees about attacks on the data networks.

The study discovered 32 per cent have experienced four attacks by cyber-criminals in the past three years.

It also found it took 26 per cent of firms more than a week to rectify the problem and restore their systems to correct working order.

Darrell Rodenbaugh, senior vice president of the mid-market segment at McAfee, warned business that criminals will attempt to breach data networks of all sizes.

"For businesses of all sizes, viruses, hacker intrusions, spyware and spam can lead to lost or stolen data, computer downtime, decreased productivity, compliance issues, lost sales and even loss of reputation," he added.

Yesterday, it was reported that a new virus, Asprox, has struck several UK governmental websites and could have spread to two million systems across the globe.