We’ve seen a lot of comments about the antivirus software from the Russian company Kaspersky. While we don’t want to appear paranoid about all things Russian, it’s worth noting that it’s not one of the top packages out there. And in this time of increasing cyber attacks, it’s worth asking: Is your security posture straight?

Viral outbreaks are more common than we’d like to think, and you need to treat cyber viruses with the same caution as corona viruses. Our concern with Kaspersky is that given today’s world situation and the ties of Russian companies to the Russian government, who knows who has access to what kind of systems that could lead to a breach? While no protection system is perfect, it’s a chance we’re not willing to take – knowing full well that Kaspersky has many, many satisfied customers around the world.

There are many other considerations.

First, we think size matters when it comes to antivirus software, and that’s why we tend to recommend a couple of the big guys, such as Symantec and McAfee. When a virus outbreak occurs, they usually have the larger nets to catch them, and they have more experts available to develop and deploy the necessary defenses as fast as possible. This is not to say that smaller, off-brand or even free software providers are bad. There are some good ones, but by and large, most users, especially those who are less tech-savvy, will find the larger packages easier to configure and update automatically.

And that brings us to a second point. You absolutely MUST always monitor your security software. You absolutely MUST always have antivirus, malware and firewall software running all the time, and you absolutely MUST always keep it updated. We find people get too naïve and lazy when it comes to internet security, thinking it can’t happen to them. It’s as inconceivable (in our opinion) as leaving the keys in your car while it’s parked in the driveway.

We get calls all the time from clients who either tried to get by with cheaper, ineffective security software or didn’t make the effort to keep their software up to date. When we have to come in and fix those problems, it’s usually more expensive than the cost of the software because we have to do all the work. Why take the chance?

When was the last time you had your security posture checked? It’s not just you and your home and/or office. It’s also about family members and employees – especially those who have remote access to company systems. Is everyone at home or work following good security procedures and keeping their security software up to date? Keep in mind, too, that peripherals, such as printers, show up as computers on a network, and older peripherals are not as secure.

Call us – 973-433-6676 – or email us to make sure your security posture is straight and strong.