According to a recent survey by Trend Micro, Viruses, Trojans, data-stealing malware and data leaks were rated as big IT concerns among small businesses. The survey included 1,600 end-users in the U.S., U.K., Germany and Japan. On average, 63 per cent of small businesses were most concerned by viruses, 60 per cent by Trojans, 59 per cent by data-stealing malware (malware designed by cybercriminals specifically to steal data), followed by 56 per cent by data leaks - the intentional or unintentional sending of sensitive or crucial information outside the corporate network. Phishing scams and spam were least concerning among the small businesses surveyed.
"What this tells us is that data loss, either through internal data leaks or malware, is a serious issue for small businesses, especially as they become more aware of their attractiveness to cybercriminals," commented Amit Nath Country Manager India and SAARC Trend Micro. He further added, "It would not be surprising to see data-stealing malware and data leaks pushed up to number one and two on this list in the next few years."
The survey found that the most prevalent forms of IT protection against data stealing malware is installing security software, restricting Internet access and implementing security policies. Even then, 21 per cent of small business employees still say that their IT departments can do a better job at protecting them on potential risks associated with data-stealing malware. More alarmingly, more than one-third (35 per cent) of employees in small companies indicated that their IT department could have done a better job by educating them about data stealing malware.
This is worsened by the fact that employees within large companies indicate more awareness of confidential business information than those in small companies. Employees in large U.S. companies are significantly more likely to indicate data leaks as a serious threat than those in smaller companies: 74 per cent in large companies, 49 per cent in small companies.
