Bug Bites Put A Big Hurt On Businesses
While computer viruses may be no more than a minor annoyance for casual Internet surfers, a new report underscores the enormous cost of viruses to businesses.
Viruses and denial-of-service attacks such as this spring’s “Love Bug” assault will cost corporations around the globe more than $1.5 trillion this year, according to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for InformationWeek. That’s trillion with a “T.”
The 2000 Global Information Security Survey also found that in the U.S. alone, damages in the form of lost revenues linked to viruses and computer hacking will total $266 billion.
That figure represents the impact of viruses on U.S. businesses with more than 1,000 employees, or about 50,000 firms.
If viruses haven’t disrupted your Internet access, here are a few new, entertaining or useful Web sites to explore:
* Living large: For a glimpse at how fat cats live, call up 5starshopper.com, which aims to become “the destination portal site for the discerning international affluent consumer.”
The Web site offers everything from fine art and antiques to travel. It currently has more than 800 merchant links and hopes to boost that to more than 2000.
http://www.5starshopper.com
* Annie get your gun: Hunting is a popular pastime in this area, and more women are taking up the sport.
A new site targets that niche, aiming to “help women improve their hunting skills with a rifle, shotgun, black-powder weapons and archery equipment.”
It also offer tips on wildlife biology, wildlife behaviors and how-to articles.
While it’s intended primarily for women, the site also welcomes men.
http://www. womenshuntingonline.com
* Wish list: OK sports fans, here’s your chance to turn those dreams into reality — or at least make the dreams seem more real.
Sportsgenies.com describes itself as “a revolutionary site that will be the first to allow its members to `wish’ for any sports-related item they can dream of.”
Submit a request and the Web site’s “Genie” will respond with an offer. Then you have the option of purchasing the product directly or submitting the wish to your wish list recipients in hopes that they’ll make the purchase for you.
http://www.sportsgenies.com