Spyware, viruses and hacker attacks can be devastating to small businesses. Here's how to protect your company from internet security threats.

Many small-business owners assume that large corporations are far more vulnerable to internet security threats than they are. In truth, however, it's often the other way around. For example, the destructive Mydoom worm affected one out of three small and mid-sized businesses--but only one out of six large enterprises, according to the Internet Security Alliance, a non-profit organization that provides a forum for information security issues.

Because they have a false sense of security and assume they're not at risk, many small-business owners don't adequately protect their computers and networks from spyware, viruses, worms, hacker attacks, customer data theft and other security threats. In addition, with so many balls to juggle already, entrepreneurs often put computer security far down on their to-do lists--if it makes the list at all.

The result: Nearly half of all small and mid-sized businesses haven't taken the most basic security precautions, such as installing antivirus and anti-spyware programs, reports research firm AMI-Partners.