Fears over computer security

According to a local IT expert, almost half of firms admit their computer infrastructure is not fully protected against harmful security breaches.

In a report polling 600 companies across Europe, 45 per cent admitted that their technology systems were never 100 per cent protected from software and network vulnerabilities such as viruses and hacker attacks.

"More than a quarter said it takes up to 48 hours from the time a security patch is issued until systems are fully protected, with a fifth claiming it can take as long as a week" said Mike Goldworthy, technical director of GHS UK Limited of Devizes Road, Swindon.

Many respondents were also unaware about how many security patches had been applied over the past six months.

IT security company McAfee, which carried out the study, said: "Organisations are vulnerable to IT attacks because security patches are issued too frequently for businesses to safely test and deploy throughout the organisation in a timely fashion."

Microsoft's latest monthly security update, released last week, included five bulletins that detailed and patched 14 vulnerabilities within version 6 of its Internet Explorer browser.

"Eight of the bugs were given the highest rating due to the likelihood of an attacker gaining complete control of a user's system," said Mike. "Microsoft recommended users apply the patches immediately."

This article originally appeared in the Swindon Advertiser on the 25 April 2006 and Swindon Chamber News on the 1 May 2006

Return to GHS News menu