SMEs fear viruses not hackers

Steve Barnett, MD of Northern Europe operations for Checkpoint, said: "There is a lack of understanding as to what security is.

SMEs think of anti-virus software and web server security. They should be thinking about the security of their data because they have a legal obligation under the Data Protection Act."

Barnett warned that companies with leased line connections to the internet are targets for data theft. At special risk are companies that supply to big businesses.

The survey revealed that 12 per cent of companies have suffered a security breach in the last year. Barnett said this figure could be doubled or tripled to account for companies unaware of breaches or unwilling to admit them.

Barnett also said the DTI should make its advisory notices more high profile, but he doubted the usefulness of new legislation.