The UK's SMEs must realise that "it's as much about anti-spyware as it is about anti-virus", a leading IT security organisation has said.

Get Safe Online is a joint initiative from the government the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and leading businesses. Its managing director, Tony Neate, claims that even though 97 per cent of small businesses use anti-virus software, only a small proportion see the need for separate anti-virus protection.

"[Small businesses] need to realise as well that it's as much about anti-spyware as it is about anti-virus," Mr Neate explained.

"It's not just companies who trade online, but any company which stores the personal information of their customers or even information of their own," he went on.

"If you're a small company … and you have your financial details [on the computer] ready for the taxman, and that gets compromised, you are going to be in a lot of trouble."

Mr Neate went on to say that it was important that SMEs looked at the four elements of overall security - "anti-spyware, anti-virus, firewalls, and updating the operating system".

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