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Securing Personal Data in Small Companies?

Posted by Cliff on from the what-can-you-do? dept.

lohmann asks: "I was recently paying rent in my apartment office when I noticed several of the rental agents frantically shaking a nearby keyboard. Being a geek, I intervened... and plugged the mouse back in. A barrage of performance questions ensued, so I checked their system for any issues. The results were astounding: Windows 95, no firewall, no AV software, and no backup software on a machine containing thousands of individuals personal information (including mine). I ran some utilities and removed dozens of viruses and instances of spyware. I voiced my concerns over security issues, but was told that 'there is no budget for such things' and that 'we haven't had any trouble in the past.' Have any of you run across similar instances of small companies refusing to protect your data? What can I do to convince them to secure the network?"

6 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Well... by FooAtWFU · · Score: 3, Funny

    Imagine what would happen if they opened up their Rent Due spreadsheet and read something like "If you are reading this, than I could have altered the amount I owe. You need better security. Kthxbye."

    --
    The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
    1. Re:Well... by toygeek · · Score: 2, Funny

      INCONCEIVIBLE!

      --
      Nobodies Prefect
      Tidbits for Techs Technology Blog
  2. Re:now you got me worried. by Yaztromo · · Score: 2, Funny
    What am I to do? Will a small company (Radio shack down the street) lose my personal info? They must have asked me like 20 times...is that because they lose my info each time and have to get it again?

    Bah. Just do what I do. Everytime they ask me for my name and address, I just give them yours.

    Uh, on second thought, maybe you shouldn't do what I do :).

    Yaz.

  3. Re:gym by flacco · · Score: 2, Funny
    I once went to my gym, where they know me as the local computer geek.

    undoubtedly because you only went once, weighed 105 or 328 pounds, had a protruding adam's apple and thick black-rimmed glasses, and fell off all the exercise equipment jerry lewis style.

    --
    pr0n - keeping monitor glass spotless since 1981.
  4. Re:Here's what you can do... by Ubertech · · Score: 2, Funny

    For what I am about to do, I humbly apologize, and beg your forgiveness. Now then...

    Find a hurricane
    Step outside during the storm
    Scream like little girl

    The last line should, of course, be spoken with a fake Russian accent, like the one from the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons of the 1970s.

    --
    Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
  5. Re:gym by ralphus · · Score: 2, Funny

    All while wearing a 2600 t-shirt. :)

    --
    Revolutions are never about freedom or justice. They're about who's going to be top dog. -- Kilgore Trout