Why do you need a password?  Think about the number of personal identification numbers (PINs), passwords, or passphrases you use every day: getting money from the ATM or using your debit card in a store, logging on to your computer or email, signing in to an online bank account or shopping cart . . . the list seems to just keep getting longer. Keeping track of all of the number, letter, and word combinations may be frustrating at times, and maybe you've wondered if all of the fuss is worth it. After all, what attacker cares about your personal email account, right? Or why would someone bother with your practically empty bank account when there are others with much more money? Often, an attack is not specifically about your account but about using the access to your information to launch a larger attack. And while having someone gain access to your personal email might not seem like much more than an inconvenience and threat to your privacy, think of the implications of an attacker gaining access to your social security number or your medical records.

Many funeral home owners believe that they do not need to worry much about computer and online security. “After all,” they reason, “who would want to target my business when there are so many bigger targets out there?” While it’s true that small businesses are not directly attacked as often as larger organizations, there are several reasons why small businesses should be concerned. Small businesses often end up affected by larger attacks, such as mass worm outbreaks or phishing scams. Often, small businesses don’t do software updates as quickly as a large company because they don’t have an IT staff, leaving them more vulnerable.