| 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 virus | | | | into the operating system.Service providers are being |
| attack. If you don't believe me, just pickup any | | | | told that the motorclub Digital Dispatch will not work |
| newspaper or listen to any news show, computer | | | | behind a firewall. While this may be true for the web |
| attacks happen everyday. Should you stop using the | | | | solutions from the motorclubs, it is not true for the |
| Internet? ABSOLUTELY NOT! With the proper | | | | solutions being provided by the towing software |
| precautions you can adequately secure your | | | | vendors. Furthermore, I believe with a little |
| information. In fact, I read a statistic the other day | | | | investigation and testing the motorclub browser |
| that said more data is lost from computers being | | | | solution should work behind a firewall too.But is it |
| stolen than from data being accessed from the | | | | safe to use Digital Dispatch? Although Digital Dispatch |
| Internet.Then why should you use a computer | | | | uses 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 their | | | | expected in a certain format, if does not receive |
| businesses using a computer. Today, most of the | | | | data in that format it rejects the packet. However, |
| motorclubs encourage service providers to use the | | | | your towing software vendor should also verify that |
| Internet to receive calls. Tomorrow this may become | | | | the data packet came from one of the motorclubs |
| a requirement. In fact, the Internet will soon be used | | | | and the connection should not remain open for more |
| by car dealers, trucking companies ( car rental | | | | than a few seconds. These precautions will keep |
| agencies, and insurance companies to send the | | | | your risk exposure to a minimum.Purchase an |
| majority of towing requests. Therefore, it is | | | | anti-virus program and keep it up-to-date |
| imperative that you protect your information from | | | | Most anti-virus programs have a "live update" |
| malicious Hackers.Just like we use locks on our doors | | | | feature that will check the company's web site for |
| and windows to prevent intruders, we can lock down | | | | virus updates and update the software when |
| the information on our computer. However, just as it | | | | needed. You need to do this about every 2 weeks |
| is difficult to absolutely prevent someone from | | | | to make sure you are protected against the latest |
| entering your house, it is difficult to absolutely | | | | viruses. You can order an anti-virus program online |
| prevent someone (a hacker) from gaining access to | | | | from 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 can | | | | for "locked padlock". Netscape places the padlock in |
| restore your information.The same way banks | | | | the lower left corner and Internet Explorer places the |
| protect your money and valuables in high security | | | | padlock in lower right corner of the program screen. |
| vaults, professional system administrators protect | | | | Giving your credit card information over the Internet |
| your data by preventing nearly all attacks from | | | | on a secure site is more secure than giving your card |
| hackers, losses from fire, storms or theft with the | | | | over 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 not | | | | sent directly to the credit card company, bank, or |
| able to go to this expense. So my article is aimed at | | | | processing company without human intervention.Use |
| affordable solutions that will give you adequate | | | | online applications (ASPs)The next generation of |
| protection against viruses and hackers.Let's start with | | | | applications 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 a | | | | online. 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.Viruses | | | | thwart the efforts of hackers will maintain the sites. |
| and Trojan Horses: Viruses are computer programs | | | | Your data will be safer on the web than in your own |
| that run against your wishes and without your | | | | office. 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, a | | | | safe on the server of your application service |
| special kind of computer virus, is a malicious program | | | | provider. Therefore, since nothing is stored on your |
| that is disguised as a useful or fun program. It can be | | | | local 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 attachment | | | | business without experiencing any downtime or lost |
| claiming that it is a super duper screen saver or | | | | information.Use secure databases to store your |
| another appealing document. When you launch the | | | | informationIf 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 and | | | | databases. Think of a database like a file cabinet. |
| initialized on your system. It can be a remote control | | | | Some people lock their file cabinets and others do |
| type of program, which will allow someone to control | | | | not. 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 threats | | | | to login with a password, this does not mean the |
| like this and issue a new virus definition that detects | | | | database is protected. Certain older less expensive |
| the Trojan before it can do any harm. That is why it | | | | database systems allow access to your information |
| is very important to keep your anti-virus software | | | | from outside the software that created it (using |
| up-to-date.Firewall: A software program or hardware | | | | something like Microsoft Excel). However, expensive |
| device that monitors Internet activity to detect and | | | | enterprise (professional client/server) database |
| prevent unauthorized access to a computer | | | | systems, 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 the | | | | the proper user ID and password, it is nearly |
| vulnerability of your computer system to outside | | | | impossible to view your information. This is not the |
| attacks:- programs will also identify other areas of | | | | case with older (distributed) databases, such as |
| concern and rate your exposure. They will also give | | | | FoxPro and dBase. These packages merely store |
| instructions on minimizing your risks, like:Disabling File | | | | information and do not require authorization to view |
| and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks | | | | the information. They rely on your local network to |
| This is a Windows networking setting that should be | | | | provide the security.The Internet generation of |
| disabled (off) unless you are behind a firewall. If you | | | | towing software (ASPs) will likely use professional |
| have this enabled (on) anyone can access the data | | | | client/server databases for information storage. This |
| on your computer hard drive. Look in the Microsoft | | | | will bring a level of security to your information that |
| Windows help file under "File and Printer Sharing for | | | | has been needed for a long time.To review, you |
| Microsoft Networks" for instructions on disabling | | | | should 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 programs | | | | firewall 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 upper | | | | to new online applications (ASPs) for towing |
| and lower case letters with numbers. The more | | | | management, accounting, etc. to provide the most |
| random you make the sequence the better. For | | | | secure, cost effective business environment.Using |
| example "rfghZyU23Iu" is hard to crack, but it is also | | | | computers, the Internet, and proper safeguards, your |
| hard to remember. Think of it as remembering a | | | | business information will be more secure and |
| combination to a lock or a phone number. You can | | | | accessible. Your competitors will have a tough time |
| remember it with a little practice.Consider purchasing | | | | catching 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 exposure | | | | development company specializing in towing software |
| to unwanted guests by monitoring all Internet | | | | and fleet management software. |
| activity. The next version of Microsoft Windows | | | | |