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General Safety Issues

SMALL BUSINESSES NEED TO KNOW SAFETY FIRST (GUEST POST)

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Small Businesses Need to Know Safety First

There are numerous things that an individual has to consider before starting their own small business. Unfortunately, many people don’t think about the fact that they’re going to need some type of Internet security to protect themselves and their customers. Recent research has shown that over 70 percent of all company data breaches occurred at businesses with fewer than 100 employees. This makes it vital that every small business owner know the threat that they face and how to prevent it.

Internet Crimes against Small Businesses

The majority of Internet crimes committed against small businesses have the intent of dishonest financial gain. This can be done by gathering information on customers, employees or any one’s financial or personal information. There are several ways in which Internet criminals do this, and the following list is nowhere near exhaustive.

Trojans, Worms and Viruses

Trojans, worms and viruses are all malicious programs that hackers will attempt to get into a company’s network. Using these programs, a hacker can steal financial and personal information, see everything that employees are typing, access personnel files and even completely shut down company operations. These programs are excessively detrimental. 

However, there are situations, where an employee of a small business can unknowingly be used by a criminal and cause damages to their company. In such cases, it is important to obtain the services of an attorney who has years of experience handling the defense of those charged with white collar crimes. According to the information on his website Steven Kellis, Attorney at Law believes, “Your best defense is an aggressive and experienced offense”.

Botnets

Botnets are one of the most disastrous things that can happen to a company. This happens when a breach occurs in the company’s network and hackers are able to control all of the machines within the network. They’ll often do things like send spam emails from trusted company accounts in an effort to secure personal information from those in a company’s contact list.

Phishing Scams

Most individuals have run into these scams in the form of fake emails trying to elicit financial information. Small businesses, however, have had to deal with these scams for decades; even over the phone. “Phishers” will often contact companies and pretend to be someone who deserves access to information. Untrained employees will sometimes unwittingly give out personal or financial information to these criminals.

How Small Business can prevent Internet Crimes

Dangers faced by small businesses make it absolutely mandatory for certain security measures to be in place. Luckily, any small business owner can implement these strategies and end up saving money in the long run.

Strong Firewalls and Anti-virus Software

The first step to protecting company data is strong firewalls and anti-virus software. These will prevent most attacks from malicious programs such as worms, malware, viruses and Trojans. This is really the forefront of protection against external attacks, so failing to have strong and trusted programs in place is equivalent to rolling out the welcome mat for Internet criminals. 

Employee Guidelines

Although employees are sometimes the perpetrators of data breaches, they’re usually simply unwilling accomplices in network breaches performed by hackers. Training should be provided to all employees informing them of the dangers of opening unknown emails, downloading unknown files and even visiting social media sites from work. Proper employee training can go a long way in protecting a company’s assets.

Consider Insurance

While many small businesses who take appropriate safety precautions never need it, it’s not a bad idea to have cyber liability insurance. This will protect a company from huge liabilities if they ever experience a data breach. Since a large portion of data breaches are committed by wayward employees, it’s also not a bad idea to inquire as to everything that this insurance will cover.

It should be quite obvious that small businesses face danger on all fronts due to the advent of networking. Doing business wouldn’t be nearly as easy as it is today without networking, but this also comes with its own disadvantages. Computer savvy criminals now have the potential to access more company records than ever before, and because of this, it is absolutely essential that every small business owner take precautions to protect themselves and their clients.

Paralegal Kelly Kovacic is a former owner of a small business and she understands how important it is to protect your business from Internet crimes. However, there are cases where employees are used by criminals to destroy their own company. Steven Kellis, Attorney at Law has years of the necessary experience to challenge and disprove false evidence of the accused. This can make a critical difference in the quality of life for anyone charged with computer crimes.

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Health Issues, Uncategorized

IT’S “GET SMART ABOUT ANTIBIOTICS” WEEK!

Sponsored by the Center for Disease Control, the week of November 12 through 18th is dedicated to educating the public about the use of antibiotics and other similar drugs, which are called antimicrobial agents.  In use for the past 70 years to treat patients with infectious diseases, these drugs have immensley reduced illness and death from infectious diseases since the 1940’s.  Antibiotic use has been very beneficial, and when prescribed and taken correctly, their value in patient care is huge.  However, the drugs have been used for so long and so widely that the infectious organisms the antibiotics are designed to kill have adapted to them, making the drugs less effective.  Those patients who are infected with antimicrobial-dresistant organisms are more likely to have more expensive and longer hospital stays, and may be more likely to die as a result of the infection.

A growing number of disease-causing organisms, also known as pathogens, are resistant to one or more antimicrobial drugs.  A wide range of pathogens—including the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, the viruses that causes influenza, the parasites that cause malaria, and the fungi that cause yeast infections—are becoming resistant to the antimicrobial agents used for treatment.  More information about some of the organisms and diseases associated with antimicrobial resistance, may help us understand how important it is to not misuse antibiotics. 

Acinetobacter

Acinetobacter [asz−in−ée−toe–back−ter] is a group of bacteria commonly found in soil and water. While there are many types or “species” of Acinetobacter and all can cause human disease, Acinetobacter baumannii [asz−in−ée−toe–back−ter   boe-maa-nee-ie] accounts for about 80% of reported infections.  Outbreaks of Acinetobacter infections typically occur in intensive care units and healthcare settings housing very ill patients. Acinetobacter infections rarely occur outside of healthcare settings.

Anthrax

Anthrax is a serious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that forms spores. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic mammalian species, but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or to tissue from infected animals or when anthrax spores are used as a bioterrorist weapon. Some strains of B. anthracis may be naturally resistant to certain antibiotics and not others. In addition, there may be biologically mutant strains that are engineered to be resistant to various antibiotics.

Group B streptococcus

Group B Streptococcus (group B strep) is a type of bacteria that causes illness in newborn babies, the elderly, and adults with other illnesses, such as diabetes or liver disease. Group B strep has shown confirmed resistance to certain antibiotics. (My husband had this B strep bacteria following a hip replacement. He went through six weeks of antibiotic therapy through home health, wearing an IV continuously.) 

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella infections commonly occur among sick patients who are receiving treatment for other conditions. Patients whose care requires devices like ventilators (breathing machines) or intravenous (vein) catheters, and patients who are taking long courses of certain antibiotics are most at risk for Klebsiella infections. Healthy people usually do not get Klebsiella infections.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin. Serious or life-threatening occurrences of “Staph” infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. Visitors are cautioned to wash their hands before entering and when leaving the room of a patient with Staph infection.  Visitors should avoid touching catheters or wound sites on the patient.  

MRSA in communities can be widespread and therefore, anyone is at risk.  Most people who get MRSA get infections of the skin.  Factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include: close skin-to-skin contact. Openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene.  People may be more at risk in locations where these factors are common, such as: athletic facilities, dormitories, military barracks, correctional facilities, and daycare centers. 

Preventing MRSA infections is a high priority for CDC. CDC is actively working to reduce MRSA infections in the United States through intensive efforts with healthcare providers to improve infection control practices and prevent HAIs. (Hospital-Associated Infections.) CDC also continually monitors the occurrence of MRSA and other infections in the population. CDC’s work provides the foundation for national and local healthcare-associated prevention efforts.  

When you are ill, your physician knows how much antibiotic therapy you should be given.  A good rule of thumb to stay healthier this winter is to eat healthy foods, exercise, and wash your hands often, especially when you go in and out of public buildings.  Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse or car, so you can clean your hands when there’s no water available.

 Source: CDC