Cyber Crime

According to security experts, the threats of cybercrime and cyber terrorism are real and need to be taken seriously. No business is exempt from these attacks, so you need to ensure you take all precautions possible. The articles below provide usable information on what to be aware of and how to protect your organization.

Today's attackers are better at sharing real-time intelligence than their targets, and fixing this should be a top priority in 2012. (Item #1)   Seconds matter in cybercrime investigations, but it's nearly impossible to contact Google, Facebook and others by phone. (Item #2)   If your security isn't up to par, you're vulnerable to cybercriminals. (Item #3)  

Whether sophisticated or low-tech attach, cyber terrorism may be a greater threat that any physical attack. (Item #4)   Businesses must constantly be on the alert to outwit cyber criminals; a number of simple procedures to enhance IT protection can help to fend off attacks. (Item #5)   Here's a link to a site where you can initiate a complaint about cybercrime. (Item #6)  

As always, we look forward to hearing your comments & insights regarding business continuity. If you have a topic you'd like us to cover, email me at [email protected].

Bob Mellinger, President
Attainium Corp

1. 2012: Year of war against cyber crime

Organizations around the world today are dealing with a deluge of digital information. The velocity of sharing information is skyrocketing as well - driven by web-based applications, mobile devices, social networks and cloud computing, leaving everyone interconnected as never before. This new openness to computing infrastructures is creating greater opportunities for collaboration, communication and innovation; but it's also creating new vulnerabilities that cyber criminals, hacktivist groups and nation states have learned to exploit.
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-02-16/news/
31066959_1_cyber-security-cyber-attacks-vulnerabilities

2. Social Media Companies Contribute to Cybercrime

Cybercrime has become the perfect crime, because it is so difficult to track and trace cybercriminal activities. Most businesses today actively use Facebook, You Tube, and Twitter to manage their marketing and customer interaction. When they suspect or know of wrongdoing, however, they enter a frustrating process trying to report it to these companies, obtain logs of activity associated with their accounts, and seek assistance in restoring service.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jodywestby/2012/03/14/social-media-companies-contribute-to-cybercrime/

3. Cybercriminals Sniff Out Vulnerable Firms

Many smaller businesses find themselves vulnerable to cyberthieves, mainly because they have limited budgets for Web security and few or no technology experts on staff. Small businesses feel like they're immune from cybercrime, but they are absolutely on the list of potential targets of cybercriminals.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303933404577504790964060610.html

4. Cyber terrorist threats loom 10 years after 9/11

Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the possibility of a second devastating attack by al-Qaida or a similar group has been on the minds of many Americans. There has been much discussion as to whether terrorist groups could get access to nuclear, biological or chemical weapons - weapons of mass destruction. Should we be concerned about another potential threat - a cyber weapon of mass destruction? Yes, say security experts. The cyber terrorist threat is real, and plots involving such attacks may already be in the works.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44415109/ns/technology_and_science-security/t/cyber-terrorist-threats-loom-years-after/

5. Preventing cyber crime

The borderless online world has made communication easier, but also given criminals another avenue for theft. They can launch attacks from abroad with impunity and profit if even a few victims respond to a scam. With more employees taking a laptop home or logging into work emails and files from their phone, he says it is important to ensure information is protected.
http://www.nab.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/nab/nab/home/Business_Solutions/
10/Business+View/4/8/5/

6. Internet Crime Complaint Center

The IC3 was established as a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center to serve as a means to receive Internet related criminal complaints and to further research, develop, and refer the criminal complaints to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement and/or regulatory agencies for any investigation they deem to be appropriate. There is a link on this site to filing a complaint.
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx