Computers making guarding precious information a challenge - Jacksonville's Financial News & Daily Record

“It’s a big risk for companies, not just disgruntled employees but companies that are downsizing as well,” said Chanley Howell, a partner with Foley & Lardner who specializes in data security and privacy law.

With the modern technology available at most discount stores, theft of a company’s information stored on a computer network doesn’t have to involve wire fraud. Removable media — also called a “flash drive” or “thumb drive” — is widely available. The latest models can hold up to 12 gigabytes of data.

“And that’s the equivalent of a tractor-trailer full of paper,” said Robert Jones, an investigator at Mulholland Forensics.

Howell advises his clients to avoid that aspect of technology.

“We recommend that clients limit the use of flash drives. The more places data is stored, the more ways there are to lose data,” he said. “And it’s not just thumb drives. Any kind of remote storage, including laptops, is vulnerable. We recommend that all data stay on network servers or at least on encrypted laptops or other encrypted devices.”