You may not know it yet, but you’ve likely been hit with spyware. So was Michael Borque, technical services manager for Irvine-based food products supplier Golden State Foods.
According to a recent Forbes story, spyware last year created an opening in Golden State’s computer network big enough for a virus,a worm specifically,to infiltrate the company’s network.
The worm knocked out Golden State’s e-mail and payroll system, Borque told Forbes. It took two weeks for technicians to fix the problem.
A Golden State worker unknowingly downloaded the spyware that opened the door for the worm, Borque told Forbes.
Spyware is a little program that tracks your Web habits for marketing purposes. Sometimes it’s downloaded with a free program you meant to install, or gets on your computer surreptitiously. Severe cases can redirect Internet connections and bog down computers.
Worms are viruses that replicate themselves and spread from computer to computer.
Market tracker International Data Corp. estimates 67% of all computers,mostly home PCs,have been hit by spyware, according to Forbes.
But it’s not just home users. Golden State counts yearly sales of $2.3 billion. It’s the largest supplier of patties, sauces and other products to McDonalds Corp.
Last year, Golden State underwent a buyout from billionaire Ron Burkle, founder and managing partner of Los Angeles investment firm Yucaipa Cos.
Chief Executive Mark Wetterau and brother Conrad led the buyout and own 65% of the company.
Golden State is the second-largest privately held company based here after Newport Beach life insurer Pacific Life Insurance Co.
*For more on this story,
read the Forbes article.
