IP Security - Still the Latest Threat
Information technology has helped businesses to increase their productivity; however, an unwelcome side effect is that that intellectual property (IP) fraud due to technology has increased.
27th March 2008No longer is information held on computer printouts which, is difficult to copy and easily accounted for the norm. Then it was more difficult to commit IP fraud. Today, notebook computers, internet email accounts, USB drives, compact flash cards, iPods, CD and DVD burners together with other technologies have made copying and removing large amounts of information from a company all but invisible to the eye. Is this actually happening? Well according to a survey conducted by KPMG in April 2007, and I quote “The typical company fraudster is a trusted male executive who gets away with over twenty fraudulent acts over a period of up to five years or more.”
Whether you are a large or small company, you will be affected by IP fraud of some description,Z so how can you protect yourself from it? The first step is to ensure that all information is secured through proper procedures and to notify all employees of your intended commitment to safeguard company assets, IP and trade secrets. This should prevent the ‘honest employees’ from any temptation of committing IP fraud. For the committed IP fraudster, a new tool that is proving to be effective is a product called “Webwatcher”.
Webwatcher monitors almost everything that happens on a computer, including:
- Emails which are both sent and received
- Instant Message/Chats
- Tracks all websites that are visited
- It can controls which soft ware programs that can be used
- Tracks all key strokes typed into a computer
- Takes screen shots pictures of the monitored computer so you are able to see graphics etc
In addition to the above, clever technology enables the owner of a company to:
- Monitor a computer remotely, so if you are a travelling boss you are able to keep an eye on the workforce
- The ability to monitor laptops no matter where they might travel
- SmartCamera – a way to take intelligent surveillance video of all operations whenever a specific programme is used.
If you are interested in protecting your company from IP fraud, contact www.AwarenessTech.com to start making your company secure.