Armed combat: everyone knows about the threats posed by hackers, viruses and ill-tempered...

No wonder computer security experts sometimes get exasperated with smaller businesses. Despite realising internet-borne computer security threats are real and "e-security" important, many businesses will wait until they've been hit by a major virus or net intruder before implementing an adequate security solution. And sometimes these hits" are devastating. (See box page 29.)

Just why small businesses lag behind their larger counterparts in keeping their computer systems secure is probably obvious. Small business people wear many hats and do not always have a dedicated I