Lawyers score top marks for security

LAWYERS have beaten accountants, advertisers and public relations companies hands down in a survey on Internet security and "firewalling".

The survey quizzed Internet users on whether they used "firewalls", a security mechanism which blocks computer hackers from accessing files via the Internet.

Without a firewall, computer hackers can tap into confidential files or manipulate data, and this risk is widened if an information network links computers within the firm.

Conference organisers Reed Exhibition Companies and firewall suppliers Check Point Software Technologies conducted the survey among law firms with between 20 and 80 partners, as well as 100 other businesses.

Every law firm had firewalls in place compared with 40 per cent of accountants and only 6 per cent of PR/ad agencies.

Check Point UK managing director Steve Barnett warned: "Companies investing millions in IT security systems could be wasting their time if security breaches are occurring via its professional advisers."