Survey reveals weak Net defences

The Federation Against Software Theft (Fast) has revealed that half of the UK's top companies are neglecting to follow proper security guidelines when installing Net access.

In a survey of 200 companies - the majority of which feature in the Times 1000 list - 47 per cent admitted they don't know how to protect against viruses and other problems associated with Internet. Over a third failed to offer employee guidelines on correct, risk-free use of the Internet.

Fast chief executive, Geoff Webster, said: "We're astonished about these loose practices thrown up by the survey - Web control is not nearly as tight as we'd hoped it would be."
He listed a catalogue of Internet misuse, including time wasting from unnecessary surfing right through to serious virus exposure.

"The need for Internet access is often overestimated - it should only be implemented according to business use," he added.

Webster advised IT directors to be more forceful when implementing security and best practice for Internet strategies.