Takeaway Points to Consider

* A legion of miscreants around the world would love to steal your ID, your ideas, your customers, your business, your family members (for ransom) and/or make you look like a fool.

* How secure is your business model? Could a prankster make you look the fool by doing something similar to what Robin Goldstein did to Wine Spectator?

* How ethical is your business model? The pharmaceutical companies are constantly getting caught for questionable practices.

* Is it possible for hackers to get into your computer system and send out forged e-mails and text messages in your name?

* How secure are your data? Can hackers get into your system and swipe customer info, e-mails and/or corporate secrets?

* It is my personal opinion that if customer data are lost or stolen, the result should be automatic jail time for the CEO. Not IT. Not VP operations. Not the schlub that hit the wrong key. The CEO should be fired and go into the slammer. The buck stops there.

* Do you have potentially embarrassing e-mails on your computer? Remember, e-mails can be forever, and if released over the Internet, can be seen by billions worldwide.

* When traveling in a dictatorship such as China or Russia, it's probably not the best idea to stage a protest--or even talk about it.

* How good is your company's screening process when it comes to hiring? Do you scrupulously check resumes and references? Could a "Clark Rockefeller"--someone with a questionable past and a string of aliases--wind up in a position where data, money or personnel are compromised?