A DEDICATED team of IT specialists is urging businesses in and around Solihull to ensure they are protected against a little-known computer evil that can be as costly as a virus.
Intellidata, based in Thornhill Road, off Lode Lane, Solihull, wants firms to be on their guard against 'spyware' that can lead to personal information being picked up by criminals.
Founded by MD Nick Ashburner 19 years ago as PC Distribution Ltd, the business changed its named to Intellidata in 2002. It provides streamlined IT solutions for companies that have anything from 25 to 250 desktop PCs.
Mr Ashburner, who has a staff of 10, said spyware was something every company and organisation that uses email and the internet needed to be aware of. "This is a huge unmeasured aspect of IT - every computer we have ever
scanned has had some form of spyware on the system. "Spyware basically down-loads itself on to your computer when you access the iternet, commonly when popups appear.
"It can track every move you make - right down to every button you press on your keyboard - and can then re-send that information back into cyberspace where it can be picked up by anyone with the right know-how.
"It means someone could track your credit card number or find out exactly what you have typed into a private file and this is something that could be extremely costly."
Mr Ashburner believes businesses must take the same kind of preventative measures as they do against viruses. "No company reliant on a fast, efficient computer system would think about not having an anti-virus facility," he added.
Intellidata can be contacted on 0121 704 5800. Part of the Intellidata team: MD Nick Ashburner, front right, with colleagues, from left, engineering director Ron Wellsted, technical engineer Terry Greensill and engineering manager John Venter. ..SUPL:
