New Tool to Help Small Businesses Plan for Cyberattack

"With hackers increasingly setting their sights on small businesses, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission said Monday it will provide an online tool to help those businesses develop a cybersecurity strategy.

"The Small Biz Cyber Planner will ask a series of questions such as "Does your business use credit cards?" and "Does your business have a public website?" Based on the responses, it will generate a planning guide to help companies put in place basic policies to protect against cyberthreats.

""With larger companies increasing their protections, small businesses are now the low-hanging fruit for cybercriminals," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said an event to launch the tool, according to his prepared remarks posted online.

"The tool is being developed by the Department of Homeland Security, The National Cyber Security Alliance, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The Chertoff Group, Symantec, Sophos, Visa, The Identity Theft Council, the FCC and payroll provider ADP. It will be available at the FCC website in November and will be free to use."

PC World