Connecting to the Internet without Considering Security Issues

If you connect a non-networked computer to the Internet and then pick up a virus or get yourself hacked into, only that one computer is affected. But if you connect a networked computer to the Internet, the entire network becomes vulnerable.

Warning 

Beware: Never connect a networked computer to the Internet without first considering the security issues:

• How will you protect yourself and the network from viruses?

• How will you ensure that the sensitive files located on your file server don't suddenly become accessible to the entire world?

• How can you prevent evil hackers from sneaking into your network, stealing your customer file, and selling your customer's credit-card data on the black market?

Tip 

For answers to these and other Internet-security questions, see Chapter 9.