Instant Messaging Springs New Task Onto Security Staff; Employers Fear Thefts, Viruses; IM grows as business tool -- and as unsecured entry to firms' networks, secrets.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Publication: Investor's Business Daily

Bookmark this article Print this article Link to this article Email this article Digg It! Add to del.icio.us RSS

COPYRIGHT 2005 Investor's Business Daily, Inc.

Byline: DONNA HOWELL

More than two of every five Americans online send instant messages. And plenty of them do it at work.

Typically they use public IM networks, such as Time Warner's AOL Instant Messenger, Microsoft's MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger. Recently Google started an IM service as well -- Google Talk.

The programs help workers communicate quickly -- sharing information in short, informal bursts. But they also bring security risks. IM can leak sensitive data, or let in viruses and other malicious programs.

There are more secure corporate IM services available, but they aren't yet widespread and can be costly to install. That leaves companies with a dilemma. Many don't want to rein in workers -- and possibly hamper productivity -- but they worry about security holes.

"What most companies are doing is sticking their heads in the sand about it," said Gartner...

Read the full article for free courtesy of your local library.