Identifying Threats to Wireless Data

Chances are that you rely on your computer in some capacity, either at home or at work. Most of us have a great deal of accumulated data, including documents, music files, photos, and personal info. Have you ever stopped to think what you would do if that data were lost or destroyed?

I know I would lose time and productivity, and the loss would translate into financial loss as well while I worked to rebuild all of my records, and files. Fortunately, I back up my systems regularly, and I would be able to recover from data loss with minimal headaches.

There are many threats to your data; these include:

• Hardware Failure

• Software errors and application failure

• Media failure, such as hard drives

• Accidental damage to equipment

• Lost equipment, such as laptops

• User error and accidental deletion

Threats can originate from outside your network as well. These threats include:

• Malicious software, including viruses, worms, and Trojans

• Crackers and other computer criminals

• Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, and floods

• Man-made disasters including terrorism, war, and industrial accidents

Of all of these threats, the most common reason for data loss is user error, followed by accidental damage, loss, and hardware failure. With the amount of attention paid to crackers and malicious software, you might think these would appear near the top of the list, but in reality, they’re far less likely. However, while they aren’t as likely they do a greater amount of damage, and you need to take them seriously and protect yourself with the techniques listed in Chapters 8 and 11.

In the next sections, I’ll examine each of these threats in detail, and then begin discussing ways you can protect your data with backups.

Examining hardware failure

Newer hardware is more robust and less likely to fail than equipment developed even a few years ago. That said, these devices aren’t indestructible and they do fail. Some of the causes for hardware failure include:

• Electrostatic discharge (ESD)

• Dust accumulation

• Excessive heat

• Power surges, usually due to lightening strikes

• Bad hard drive sectors

• Accidental damage, dropping, or spilling of liquids on hardware

I haven’t presented these in any particular order of importance. Depending on the source, they’re all touted as a major cause for hardware failure. Usually, vendors selling a solution to a particular problem will tend to rank it the highest. You should consider each of them, and protect yourself accordingly. The last section in this chapter deals with ways to protect your hardware from some of these threats.

Exposing outside threats to data

Threats from outside your network are the most publicized. As I said in Chapter 3, crackers make great headlines and get a disproportionate amount of media coverage compared to the damage that they actually do.

Malicious software also gets plenty of coverage, but you’re more likely to have to deal with a virus or worm than you are a cracker. Viruses, Trojans, worms, and other computer pests are becoming all too common. If you fail to protect your computer using antivirus software, the likelihood of a virus or worm infecting it is very high.

Cross-Reference 

Refer to Chapter 7 for information about protecting your computer against malicious software.

While I hope that you’re unlikely to lose data due to a natural disaster, war, or terrorist attack, regular backups will help you to recover important data and get back on your feet should ones of these disasters occur