The high-profile case of a 20-year-old’s alleged hacking into vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin’s e-mail account is raising the profile of Internet security technologies that are becoming increasingly important as business and social communications migrate toward the Web.

 

David Kernell, who was indicted yesterday and turned himself into federal authorities, reportedly pled not guilty today to accessing the Republican governor of Alaska’s e-mail account intentionally and without authorization.

 

Experts say that anyone who uses the Internet faces security breaches.

 

As reported this week by TMCnet, recent events stemming from the nation’s credit crisis may have led to increased online activity for those with investments, pensions, mortgages and savings – a possibility that also raised security concerns.

 

“While recent events may have led to more online activity, any time there is an increase in activity, people need to be more aware of the potential risks and to use every precaution available to secure their personal data, including their financial information,” Marty Algire, vice president of products at Radialpoint – a Montreal-based provider of value-added service solutions for Internet service providers – told TMCnet in an interview.

  

It’s too early to draw any final correlations between the economic situation and online security threats, Algire said.

 

However, he said, “If you are conducting activities online, you need to be sure to do so safely. Internet threats continue to evolve and become increasingly sophisticated, and, regardless of economic environments, consumers need be aware of their online activities and take the proper steps to protect themselves.”

 

Radialpoint offers a so-called “all-in-one” security solution that includes five anti-threat measures, such as anti-virus, anti-spyware, Internet firewall, anti-adware and fraud protection.

 

Another company that’s involved in IT security made headlines today, by offering an affordable security solution at a time when many small business are struggling

 

As TMC reported, Boulder, Colorado-based Webroot – a provider of security solutions for consumers, enterprises and SMBs –said today that it’s entering a strategic partnership with Integralis, under which the latter will become a member of its so-called “Webroot Channel Edge Partner program.”

 

The designation means that Integralis – an IT security service provider in Europe and the United States – will deliver Webroot’s Software as a Service, or “SaaS (News - Alert),” product as part of its security and risk management portfolio.

 

According to Webroot’s chief executive officer, Peter Watkins, the selection by Integralis validates his company’s commitment to delivering network security in the cloud.

 

“Now companies of all sizes can benefit from a scalable enterprise-class security solution that is easy to manage and provides better protection and value than traditional appliances and software,” Watkins said.

 

Meanwhile, details about just how Palin’s alleged hacker, Kernell, is being accused of breaking into the governor’s e-mail, have yet to emerge. Kernell is accused of gaining access to Palin’s Yahoo! e-mail account by resetting a password with the site’s password recovery tool.

 

According to court papers, Kernell set the password to ‘popcorn’ by correctly answering security questions.

 

If convicted, Kernell – son of Democratic state Representative Mike Kernell – could face a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a three-year term of supervised release, according to Brian Kraemer, a reporter with ChannelWeb.

 

The trial is set for Dec. 16.

 

The case has grabbed national headlines less than a month from when voters on Election Day will decide between Palin and GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, and their Democratic rivals, presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden. According to a Gallup Poll released yesterday, the Democrats lead by 11 percentage points.