Zeeger sat down recently with The BayNet with a computer in front of him for demonstrations. He said the same advice he was giving applied to individuals, as it does to small and large businesses and their workers. Imagine if you opened that door and found everything gone. What couldn’t you live without. What on your computer can’t you live without, because if you’re hacked that information could disappear?
In order to learn how those computer thieves think and operate, Zeeger went to hacker school. “Hacking is just like any other crime,” he said, harkening back to the example of that burglar turning door knobs.
It seems as though everybody wants you to establish a password and every account has a different set of criteria. The worst thing, said Zeeger, is using the same password over and over again. Once they’ve got it they’ve got everything.
Instead Zeeger suggested setting up an encrypted file that lists all of your various passwords and then changing the password for the encrypted file on a regular basis. Encryption programs can be purchased off the shelf., He uses one called AX CRYPT.
Passwords should be a combination of letters and numbers and upper case and lower case. To change your password hit “ctrl alt delete” and you will be prompted to change your password.
Back up is the second crucial component of computer security. When Zeeger was asked if everything should be backed up, he said that was necessary since many of the programs are readily available. “Consider everything that you had is gone”, he suggested, and then go from there to decide what you should back up.
There are malicious programs out there called Ransomware that hijack your computer and ask for ransom to be paid to get your computer back. He said if it is paid in about 50 percent of the cases the computer is released. “Wiping and starting from scratch is the only way to get 100 percent clean,” he said. If the computer is old and needs to be replaced anyway, the best solution he said might be junking it and starting all over again with your backed-up files.
Zeeger noted that many of his small business clients have their customer information computerized. If that information is lost, then the company’s business could be a jeopardy. But many individuals could be in equally difficult situations if they lose their word documents or picture files or personal tax information.
Zeeger said in businesses employees need to become engaged in security issues as well as IT professionals in the company. For smaller businesses, Zeeger offers affordable onsite visits that can avoid the costly hiring of full-time security professionals. “They only pay us when they need us,” he said.
Many websites that you use on a regular basis now give you the option of remembering your user names and passwords. Zeeger said it’s a good idea to take advantage of that because often the hackers gain entry into your computer by identifying key strokes and the fewer you use the better chance of avoiding disaster.
Zeeger said most off-the-shelf virus protection software are equally useful, but none offers complete protection, he said.
Zeeger was working for SMECO as a communications engineer at the dawn of the computer age. No one was there who knew anything about security so he took classes and got his professional certification. One of his last jobs at SMECO’s Hughesville headquarters was setting up the data center.
Now in business for a decade Zeeger is getting ready to branch out into assistance to residential customers in addition to his business customers. He is getting ready to set up a storefront location in Barstow, Calvert County on Route 231. He also will be conducting seminars with an insurance agent, since lax computer security can lead to high insurance rates.
Zeeger agreed that cyber security was a growing field and offers options for young people. College of Southern Maryland has courses and high schools are starting to do the same. He has invited bright high school students into his shop to mentor. Some of them pick it up quite quickly and appear to have bring futures, he said.
Zeeger’s website is www.arzynet.com or you can contact him at rick.zeeger@arzynet.com
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com