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The international community has failed to address the real nature and extent of the cybercrime problem. National police forces and legal systems are finding it extremely difficult to keep up with the rapid growth of cyberheists and other online crime. They have limited resources and expertise to investigate online criminal activity. The victims, police, prosecutors and judges rarely uncover the full scope of the crimes that often take place across international boundaries. Action against the criminals is too slow, the arrests are few and far between, and too often the penalties are very light, especially compared with those attached to real-world crimes.
We are sending the wrong message to the criminals and that's why online crime is growing so fast. Right now would-be online criminals can see that the likelihood of their getting caught and punished is vanishingly small, yet the profits are great.
If a gunman walks into a bank and demands cash, the police are ready to leap into action. If international borders are crossed during such a crime, the international police agencies become involved. If the gunman is caught, there is always a trial and the bank will push the prosecutor for the maximum penalties possible.
This is not the case with cybercrime. Virtual gunmen are free to roam with almost nobody to stop them. Online crime is always international but local police authorities usually only have their local resources to conduct the investigation. Online crime is easier to carry out than "offline" crime and costs less to get started.
Computer security companies are doing their best to protect their customers' computers but little can be done directly by non-governmental organizations to fight the criminals at the heart of the matter. Anti-virus companies are not law enforcement, nor should they be. Tackling online crime requires a serious investment of resources on the international level and expert law enforcement agencies need to follow criminals into the online world.
Until cybercrime is abolished or at least under control to some degree, it is up to each individual within their respective organizations to take personal responsibility for Internet security awareness. Now is the time to proof up your employees against cybercrime; the means is with Internet security awareness training. Take a free Internet security phishing test!
For the full story, click here: Fight cybercrime, but keep the net free
Stu Sjouwerman
KnowBe4
[/caption]The international community has failed to address the real nature and extent of the cybercrime problem. National police forces and legal systems are finding it extremely difficult to keep up with the rapid growth of cyberheists and other online crime. They have limited resources and expertise to investigate online criminal activity. The victims, police, prosecutors and judges rarely uncover the full scope of the crimes that often take place across international boundaries. Action against the criminals is too slow, the arrests are few and far between, and too often the penalties are very light, especially compared with those attached to real-world crimes.
We are sending the wrong message to the criminals and that's why online crime is growing so fast. Right now would-be online criminals can see that the likelihood of their getting caught and punished is vanishingly small, yet the profits are great.
If a gunman walks into a bank and demands cash, the police are ready to leap into action. If international borders are crossed during such a crime, the international police agencies become involved. If the gunman is caught, there is always a trial and the bank will push the prosecutor for the maximum penalties possible.
This is not the case with cybercrime. Virtual gunmen are free to roam with almost nobody to stop them. Online crime is always international but local police authorities usually only have their local resources to conduct the investigation. Online crime is easier to carry out than "offline" crime and costs less to get started.
Computer security companies are doing their best to protect their customers' computers but little can be done directly by non-governmental organizations to fight the criminals at the heart of the matter. Anti-virus companies are not law enforcement, nor should they be. Tackling online crime requires a serious investment of resources on the international level and expert law enforcement agencies need to follow criminals into the online world.
Until cybercrime is abolished or at least under control to some degree, it is up to each individual within their respective organizations to take personal responsibility for Internet security awareness. Now is the time to proof up your employees against cybercrime; the means is with Internet security awareness training. Take a free Internet security phishing test!
For the full story, click here: Fight cybercrime, but keep the net free
Stu Sjouwerman
KnowBe4
