Digital Dispatch - Is the Internet Safe?

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