Originally published November 29 2005
Small MP3 players may mean big trouble for companies
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Concern in many companies is growing due to the popularity of devices like iPods that could potentially download thousands of commercially sensitive files. Some devices have even been made to look like a pen or a wristwatch.
With the level and value of work-related fraud reaching record highs, KPMG Forensic has warned that companies need to pay more attention to the growing risk posed by electronic devices that are capable of downloading commercially sensitive material.
They can often be plugged directly into any computer and can easily download thousands of files.
Ken Milliken, head of fraud and forensics at KPMG in Scotland, has warned that the problem could be about to get a whole lot bigger.
"Although digital storage devices such as thumb drives have been around for a few years, they are generally only used by people who work in IT departments.
But with the rise in popularity of devices such as iPods, the potential for your company's files walking out the door has increased dramatically," he said.
Popular consumer products such as iPods, digital cameras and even mobile phones are all now capable of storing huge amounts of data and it can take just a few seconds for databases of customer or product information, confidential files, financial data, and so on, to be copied on to them without companies even knowing it.
Two-thirds of the cases were committed by professional criminals, but more than �38m of fraud was carried out by management and employees.
"We are finding that this type of technology is a security issue that many companies have not even thought about," Milliken said.
"Other companies or departments may decide that a ban of this kind would be simply too damaging to internal trust to implement.
"However, it is possible to balance the trust placed in employees with protecting the company's interests by having a robust fraud risk management protocol which is clearly implemented.
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