In a recent report by computer security firm Symantec; MP3 players and iPods represent one of the top ten security threats to businesses that use computer systems. So much of a threat in fact, that many businesses that rely on their IT systems actually bar employees from bringing MP3 players and iPods into work.

Marc Fossi is the development manager for Symantec’s security response, and he’s said that today businesses face the threat of criminals looking to steal data when they hack into computer systems, to sell on for profit, instead of just doing to prove they can, as used to be the case with ‘script kiddies’.

Along with dangers such as phising websites that represent trusted sites such as eBay and PayPal in order to fool users into entering their details an plugins that users install in their browsers without knowing the results, portable removable hard drives that can be found on MP3 players and iPods are used by employees to steal data.

An MP3 player is basically a massive hard drive, which once plugged into a PC can be used to copy any amount of data from the network, such as logins, customer details and confidential reports.

In addition to this, MP3 players and iPods could also transfer viruses and malware to a businesses’ network without the knowledge of the user.

If you run your own business, do you allow your employees to bring in their own MP3 players and iPods?