Small businesses in IT using memory sticks to transfer data from one computer to another ought to ensure they are not becoming the victim of malware creators.

BitDefender noted that the biggest risk to computer users is Trojan.AutorunINF.Gen, a particularly bad code which allows people to access other computers and potentially spells the need to utilise disaster recovery to fully remove it.

The organisation explained that the virus is from a generic family of malware which abuses the autorun feature which comes with Microsoft Windows.

It continued: "By default, every removable storage device features an autorun.ini script that instructs the computer which file to execute when the device is plugged in. Malware authors are now tampering with these files to make it launch various malicious applications."

Last month, BitDefender warned shoppers about using internet sites for their purchases, noting that savvy buyers will stick to trusted websites, read the small print and have security software installed on their computer.

In a recent survey of SMEs for Connect, the two most important benefits of outsourcing were guaranteed response times and allowing in-house IT staff to concentrate on more strategic issues.