Wireless Security
Most wireless networks are set up with no security. When that is the case, anyone who is within range (the parking lot or the office down the hall) can jump onto your network. When they get onto your network this way, they are bypassing your firewall, and can attack any server or PC in the network. Let us set up Wireless Encryption Protocol (WEP) using secure keys installed only on your companies computers.

Port Scan Attacks
Your computer's operating system and applications listen for requests made by other machines over the Network. Different services and applications listen on specified ports, waiting to respond to service requests. Attackers use scanning software that can find the IP address of your cable/DSL device, and begin to send requests to every internal port. From these scans they can compile a list of vulnerable ports. Using this list they probe further for weaknesses and can wreck havoc on your network.

Spyware
Spyware incursions appear to be growing at a rate of twice that of computer virus incidents. Within the next six months, virtually all end users will have deployed some type of spyware application. These programs, which are downloaded without the users knowledge, can be s dangerous threat. They can change and control your computers settings, redirect you to scam internet sites, collect information about your computer usage and web surfing habits, and worst of all record your keystrokes (steeling your user names and passwords).

Viruses
A simple virus that can make a copy of itself over and over again is relatively easy to produce. Even a simple virus is dangerous because it will quickly use all available memory and bring your system to a halt. An even more dangerous type of virus is one capable of transmitting itself across networks and bypassing security systems. There are many different types of viruses under headings such as worms, trojan horses, denial of service attacks, etc. They all have a common purpose, which is to do damage, or cause outages.

Microsoft Security Flaws
It seems as if every hacker has their eye on the Microsoft operating system. Every day new security flaws are discovered (usually after some damage has been done to someone). Microsoft is constantly developing new critical security patches for its operating system. Unless you download, install, and manage these patches, you are at risk. Patching is not as simple as it sounds. It is very common for Microsoft security patches to break some other program or computer function. Care must be taken when deciding on what patches apply to your machines

Internet cookies
These files track you internet surfing habits, and are a threat to your privacy. Private information is contained in these files and are used by unscrupulous people. These take the form of tiny text files, which are secretly embed on the users hard drive.