Tech Tip: Don’t Download Anything You’re Not Authorized to Download

So you have a big file you need to get over to your printer YESTERDAY and you can’t get it to “send” via email because the file is too big. What should you do?

The right thing to do is to ask your IT department or provider to assist you by installing a secure, commercial-grade, file-sharing application. What you shouldn’t do is download a free copy of Dropbox or some other file-sharing software without telling those handling your IT.

Dropbox and other free apps come with a price: SECURITY. These applications are known for security vulnerabilities and hacks. Plus, if your IT department or provider doesn’t know about an app you’re using, how can it be managed and secured?

The golden rule is this: NEVER download any software or application without checking with your IT specialists first!

Alan Edwards, CISM, is chief information officer at Computerware, Inc., in Vienna, Virginia.

tagsAlan EdwardsComputerwarecybersecurityDropboxfile-sharinghackers