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McAfee: Cybercrooks Could Worsen Economy Further
SecurityProNews
Staff Writer
2008-12-10
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The flagging economy only encourages cybercriminals, says McAfee, and with governments distracted and cybercops in short supply, the new fear is that Internet-based fraud will perpetuate poor consumer confidence and delay economic recovery.
 | | McAfee: Cybercrooks Could Worsen Economy Further |  |
McAfee's solution: more cybercops, more funding, better standards, more cooperation between agencies. The suggestions stemming from McAfee's Virtual Criminology Report come interestingly timed, just shortly after the Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency released an exhaustive lists of demands (recommendations) to the President-Elect.
Fear is a heckuva motivator, perhaps the strongest, and as consumer fears increase it stands to reason cybercrooks would try to capitalize on that. Worse, the authors of McAfee's report fear economic woes are distracting leaders and preventing them from putting enough resources behind cybersecurity.
"Cybercriminals are exploiting the global recession by luring susceptible victims through the promise of easy money," Dave DeWalt, CEO of McAfee. "While the attention of governments and law enforcement bodies is diverted by the current economic crisis, the door is left open for cybercriminals to continue to target bank balances worldwide and to potentially damage the consumer trust needed to aid economic recovery."
Good old reliable get rich quick scams are on the rise as computer users promised money for uploading malicious code to websites and desperate job seekers are being recruited as "money mules" for laundering cybercriminal's ill-gotten gains. Often these mules carry a new title as "international sales representative" or "shipping manager." Promises of great deals are another way criminals prey on consumer (lack of) confidence.
So, while bailouts are pushed around and fingers pointed, experts are concerned such activity will escalate. Unfortunately, says McAfee, there's a "cybercop" shortage, a felt absence of enforcement personnel with sufficient training, pay, or career options. Those individuals who are very qualified tend to be "poached" by the private sector.
Another problem is that law enforcement is restricted by geographical jurisdictions while cybercrooks are global and quick. Though Russia and China have become safe havens for cybercrooks, there is inconsistent and limited communication between those countries and others. Even so, in most cases local, physical priorities outweigh cyber concerns in most areas.
"Governments need to commit to funding the resources needed to combat cybercrime, streamline law enforcement efforts and coordinate police actions across national borders," said DeWalt. "Everyone must play their part in a global battle that has only just begun and will continue long into 2009 and beyond if not properly addressed."
McAfee's plea comes not only on the heels of an industry-wide laundry list of recommendations, but also in the midst of a Presidential transition. The concerted, unified message is either a clear sign all this funding, training, standardization, and globalisation needs to happen or, if you're a cynic, that the entire security industry spies a giant crack in the government money floodwall. Maybe it's a little of both, but a little scare-the-bejeezus-of-them is always good for the security business, now isn't it?
Hey, works for wars and bailouts, huh?
About the Author:
SecurityProNews is a daily online and email publication focusing on internet security issues.
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