WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- The Federal Communications Commission said it developed a new online tool that will help small businesses in the United States guard against hacking.
The Small Biz Cyber Planner, scheduled for release in November, was developed jointly by the FCC, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several data security firms, The Hill reported Monday.
Hacking into a business's computers can allow criminals to steal financial information and trade secrets.
The online tool will help businesses develop a strategy to prevent cyberattacks and a new FCC site will generate a custom plan based on user's responses to a series of questions, the watchdog agency said.
"We know that hiring cybersecurity experts is costly," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said in a speech at the Chamber of Commerce headquarters Monday. "This tool will be of particular value for businesses that lack the resources to hire a dedicated staff member to protect themselves from cyberthreats. Even a business with one computer or one credit card swiper can benefit from this important guidance."
Genachowski said criminals target smaller businesses because they likely lack strong cybersecurity standards large corporations have.
"Small businesses that don't take protective measures are particularly vulnerable targets for cyber criminals. With larger companies increasing their protections, small businesses are now the low-hanging fruit for cyber criminals," he said.
