e-crime
hacked to
E-crime is big business and it’s happening here, so be on your guard and make sure you don’t get caught out
T
he hacking of the PlayStation network is one of the highest profile stories in the world of internet crime. Considered the biggest cyber
attack in internet history, it compromised the personal information of more than 100 million customers. The resulting lack of consumer confidence could provide lasting damage to the brand drawing criticism of their communication with at-risk gamers. With Sony chief Howard Stringer unable
to confirm or deny how much sensitive information the hackers got hold of, the need for trained cyber security specialists to fight back against criminals is ever more evident. The threat to businesses, no matter how
large or small, is increasingly prominent, and businesses in Gwent could face the same attacks as Sony. Should we all be taking the risks a little more seriously? It has been a steady process, but
governments are now taking serious notice of the increasing threat of internet crime. On an individual level, it is likely that many
people have been touched by e-Crime. Whether a bogus tax e-mail, a phone call
from someone claiming to be from Microsoft to save your supposedly virused computer and attempting to fraudulently obtain cash for the rescue bid, or a suspicious link on Facebook from someone you never speak to. The cyber-threat to national security
has now become a serious issue with the development of dangerous viruses like Stuxnet, which enables criminals to take control of entire operating systems. There is also the realisation that anyone
can be a victim – even the Prime Minister of Australia has been a recent victim of hacking. With the increasing sophistication of
e-Crime, and the recent example of the PlayStation Network being hacked, it is clear who is winning the battle at the moment. Microsoft is a great example of an
organisation which recognised the threat and taken action to guard against the dangers, both to its own business and its customers. Two years ago, the software giant declared
its backing for proposals to create academically accredited cyber crime training programmes for law-enforcement agencies. e-Crime is thought to have cost the Welsh
economy almost £1bn last year, it is clear that the need for specifically trained cyber crime defence specialists in Gwent and the surrounding area is now higher than ever. The US government has spoken of how its
systems are continually under cyber-attack and its concerns at the level of manpower needed to defend the country adequately. They have also outlined plans to spend more than $13bn a year within the next five years on protecting its systems. Last year, the US logged more than 300,000 virus attacks on their networks and noted that organised crime now makes more money from cyber crime than any other criminal activity. Police officers are already under significant
pressure to carry out day to day duties, but can’t ignore their duty to help people stay safe online. Recent events have re-emphasized that
businesses should be educating themselves on the risks out there and how we can help their peers and customers. Internet criminals are constantly devising and developing new ways to either scam victims or hack into high
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