| The simple answer is no. Most of the
| |
| | firewall integrated into the operating
|
| computers today are vulnerable to some
| |
| | system.Service providers are being told
|
| kind of hacker or virus attack. If you
| |
| | that the motorclub Digital Dispatch will
|
| don't believe me, just pickup any
| |
| | not work behind a firewall. While this
|
| newspaper or listen to any news show,
| |
| | may be true for the web solutions from
|
| computer attacks happen everyday. Should
| |
| | the motorclubs, it is not true for the
|
| you stop using the Internet? ABSOLUTELY
| |
| | solutions being provided by the towing
|
| NOT! With the proper precautions you can
| |
| | software vendors. Furthermore, I believe
|
| adequately secure your information. In
| |
| | with a little investigation and testing
|
| fact, I read a statistic the other day
| |
| | the motorclub browser solution should
|
| that said more data is lost from
| |
| | work behind a firewall too.But is it safe
|
| computers being stolen than from data
| |
| | to use Digital Dispatch? Although Digital
|
| being accessed from the Internet.Then why
| |
| | Dispatch uses the Internet, it poses a
|
| should you use a computer connected to
| |
| | relatively low security risk if properly
|
| the Internet? - To stay profitable. Many
| |
| | implemented. This is because data is
|
| of your competitors already manage their
| |
| | expected in a certain format, if does not
|
| businesses using a computer. Today, most
| |
| | receive data in that format it rejects
|
| of the motorclubs encourage service
| |
| | the packet. However, your towing software
|
| providers to use the Internet to receive
| |
| | vendor should also verify that the data
|
| calls. Tomorrow this may become a
| |
| | packet came from one of the motorclubs
|
| requirement. In fact, the Internet will
| |
| | and the connection should not remain open
|
| soon be used by car dealers, trucking
| |
| | for more than a few seconds. These
|
| companies ( car rental agencies, and
| |
| | precautions will keep your risk exposure
|
| insurance companies to send the majority
| |
| | to a minimum.Purchase an anti-virus
|
| of towing requests. Therefore, it is
| |
| | program and keep it up-to-date
|
| imperative that you protect your
| |
| | Most anti-virus programs have a "live
|
| information from malicious Hackers.Just
| |
| | update" feature that will check the
|
| like we use locks on our doors and
| |
| | company's web site for virus updates and
|
| windows to prevent intruders, we can lock
| |
| | update the software when needed. You need
|
| down the information on our computer.
| |
| | to do this about every 2 weeks to make
|
| However, just as it is difficult to
| |
| | sure you are protected against the latest
|
| absolutely prevent someone from entering
| |
| | viruses. You can order an anti-virus
|
| your house, it is difficult to absolutely
| |
| | program online from or Credit Card
|
| prevent someone (a hacker) from gaining
| |
| | information on a secure site onlyYou can
|
| access to your computer. That is why
| |
| | tell you are on a secure site by looking
|
| backups (your insurance) are so
| |
| | for "locked padlock". Netscape places the
|
| important. So, if you are attacked you
| |
| | padlock in the lower left corner and
|
| can restore your information.The same way
| |
| | Internet Explorer places the padlock in
|
| banks protect your money and valuables in
| |
| | lower right corner of the program screen.
|
| high security vaults, professional system
| |
| | Giving your credit card information over
|
| administrators protect your data by
| |
| | the Internet on a secure site is more
|
| preventing nearly all attacks from
| |
| | secure than giving your card over the
|
| hackers, losses from fire, storms or
| |
| | phone or even using you card in a store.
|
| theft with the proper hardware and
| |
| | This is because your credit card
|
| software, but it is expensive. The
| |
| | information is usually sent directly to
|
| average computer owner is not willing or
| |
| | the credit card company, bank, or
|
| not able to go to this expense. So my
| |
| | processing company without human
|
| article is aimed at affordable solutions
| |
| | intervention.Use online applications
|
| that will give you adequate protection
| |
| | (ASPs)The next generation of applications
|
| against viruses and hackers.Let's start
| |
| | for towing management, accounting
|
| with a few definitions:Hacker (or more
| |
| | (Quickbooks for the Web), anti-virus,
|
| correctly a Cracker): Is a programmer who
| |
| | etc. will be online. This will give
|
| breaks into a computer system for the
| |
| | tremendous security advantages. First of
|
| mere challenge of doing it. This may or
| |
| | all, Internet professionals that know how
|
| may not be a malicious attack.Viruses and
| |
| | to thwart the efforts of hackers will
|
| Trojan Horses: Viruses are computer
| |
| | maintain the sites. Your data will be
|
| programs that run against your wishes and
| |
| | safer on the web than in your own office.
|
| without your knowledge. Some cause damage
| |
| | Secondly, if you were to get a virus or
|
| to your system, while other are just
| |
| | your computer is lost or stolen, all of
|
| annoying. A Trojan Horse, a special kind
| |
| | your data would be safe on the server of
|
| of computer virus, is a malicious program
| |
| | your application service provider.
|
| that is disguised as a useful or fun
| |
| | Therefore, since nothing is stored on
|
| program. It can be installed on your
| |
| | your local computer, you can simply go to
|
| computer by email or other means. Someone
| |
| | another computer, input your password and
|
| can send you an email with an attachment
| |
| | you are back in business without
|
| claiming that it is a super duper screen
| |
| | experiencing any downtime or lost
|
| saver or another appealing document. When
| |
| | information.Use secure databases to store
|
| you launch the attachment it appears as
| |
| | your informationIf you are using a towing
|
| if nothing has happened, but in reality
| |
| | management or accounting software, your
|
| the Trojan has been installed and
| |
| | data is stored in databases. Think of a
|
| initialized on your system. It can be a
| |
| | database like a file cabinet. Some people
|
| remote control type of program, which
| |
| | lock their file cabinets and others do
|
| will allow someone to control your
| |
| | not. Databases are locked using user IDs
|
| computer, access your data or delete
| |
| | and passwords. Just because your program
|
| things. Usually the anti-virus vendors
| |
| | requires you to login with a password,
|
| are on top of threats like this and issue
| |
| | this does not mean the database is
|
| a new virus definition that detects the
| |
| | protected. Certain older less expensive
|
| Trojan before it can do any harm. That is
| |
| | database systems allow access to your
|
| why it is very important to keep your
| |
| | information from outside the software
|
| anti-virus software up-to-date.Firewall:
| |
| | that created it (using something like
|
| A software program or hardware device
| |
| | Microsoft Excel). However, expensive
|
| that monitors Internet activity to detect
| |
| | enterprise (professional client/server)
|
| and prevent unauthorized access to a
| |
| | database systems, such as SQL Server and
|
| computer system.Are you at risk?
| |
| | Oracle maintain a very high level of
|
| There are several FREE resources that
| |
| | security. That is to say, without the
|
| will test the vulnerability of your
| |
| | proper user ID and password, it is nearly
|
| computer system to outside attacks:-
| |
| | impossible to view your information. This
|
| programs will also identify other areas
| |
| | is not the case with older (distributed)
|
| of concern and rate your exposure. They
| |
| | databases, such as FoxPro and dBase.
|
| will also give instructions on minimizing
| |
| | These packages merely store information
|
| your risks, like:Disabling File and
| |
| | and do not require authorization to view
|
| Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks
| |
| | the information. They rely on your local
|
| This is a Windows networking setting
| |
| | network to provide the security.The
|
| that should be disabled (off) unless you
| |
| | Internet generation of towing software
|
| are behind a firewall. If you have this
| |
| | (ASPs) will likely use professional
|
| enabled (on) anyone can access the data
| |
| | client/server databases for information
|
| on your computer hard drive. Look in the
| |
| | storage. This will bring a level of
|
| Microsoft Windows help file under "File
| |
| | security to your information that has
|
| and Printer Sharing for Microsoft
| |
| | been needed for a long time.To review,
|
| Networks" for instructions on disabling
| |
| | you should do the following to reduce
|
| it.Using better passwordsDo not use
| |
| | your Internet risk:1. Disable file and
|
| proper names, since many of the password
| |
| | printer sharing.2. Purchase personal
|
| cracking programs assume that most people
| |
| | firewall and anti-virus software.3. Only
|
| use the names of their spouse, kids,
| |
| | use secure "pad locked" sites for credit
|
| pets, etc. You should also mix upper and
| |
| | card transactions.4. Look to new online
|
| lower case letters with numbers. The more
| |
| | applications (ASPs) for towing
|
| random you make the sequence the better.
| |
| | management, accounting, etc. to provide
|
| For example "rfghZyU23Iu" is hard to
| |
| | the most secure, cost effective business
|
| crack, but it is also hard to remember.
| |
| | environment.Using computers, the
|
| Think of it as remembering a combination
| |
| | Internet, and proper safeguards, your
|
| to a lock or a phone number. You can
| |
| | business information will be more secure
|
| remember it with a little
| |
| | and accessible. Your competitors will
|
| practice.Consider purchasing a personal
| |
| | have a tough time catching up!Todd
|
| firewall (Free - $40)
| |
| | Althouse is a Managing Partner of Beacon
|
| A personal firewall program will limit
| |
| | Software, LLC - an Internet Application
|
| your exposure to unwanted guests by
| |
| | development company specializing in
|
| monitoring all Internet activity. The
| |
| | towing software and fleet management
|
| next version of Microsoft Windows
| |
| | software.
|
| (Windows XP) will have a personal
| |
| |
|
