National Cyber Security By Gregory Evans

The Christmas spirit hasn’t slowed down hackers at all.  In fact, it may be fueling the fire and motivating them to steal more. Software developers will be vital in ensuring enterprise security in 2012. Enterprise IT departments are no longer the only folks on the hook for locking down corporate networks according to Richard Clarke. It’s the end of the year and that always means there will be plenty of best of 2011 lists.  One list includes they best hacking incidents of this year.  Here are the top two so far. Also listen to hear the job of the day!!

Attorneys from around Washington are meeting in Seattle this week for updates on the hottest legal topics heading into the New Year. Some stem from the sweeping changes to the Washington workers compensation system that go into effect Jan. 1.   The Romanian secret service (SRI) and the FBI on Wednesday pledged to step up joint efforts to fight terrorism and cybercrime, during a visit by FBI director Robert Mueller to Bucharest. Data managers will be aware of the rise in cyber crime in recent years and the increasing sophistication of attacks, but there are steps businesses can take limit the risk. Also listen to hear the job of the day!!  

Teamwork with the FBI and the Bulgarian police helped to round up an international cyber crime gang.  The gang has allegedly been draining money through illegal transactions. As the threat of cybercrime continues to grow, governments and private companies are now exploring ways to tackle the problem together.   This story is pretty good news, depending on where you live.  The United States businesses take the threat posed to data management by cyber crime a lot more seriously by than by those in the UK. Also listen to hear the job of the day!!    

The effects of cyber security could trickle down into your home.  That’s the latest threat from cyber criminals the United States is working to ward off.  A report released this week from Massachusetts Institute of Technology says the country must have standards to fight against cyber attacks on power lines that run right into homes and businesses. A new web video comes as evidence the hacker group Anonymous is getting involved in the 2012 election. Draft legislation that proposes the establishment of a so-called National Information Sharing Organization will be the subject of a hearing held today by the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies. Also listen to hear the job of the day.

Cyber security is has long been an issue for those in technology.  Now, as it gains in popularity among criminals, it is also gaining as an economic problem.  A survey recently released by PricewaterhouseCoopers showed that cybercrime is the fourth most prevalent economic crime globally.  Some experts even predict that it will shoot up to second on that list in about two years. Take cybercrime more seriously.  That’s what’s governments around the world are being urged to take the threat of cybercrime more seriously as a new initiative is set to bring help to countries looking to keep online scammers at bay. The New Year will bring new opportunities for most consumers and businesses. Unfortunately, those new opportunities are often accompanied by new threats posed by cybercriminals bent on exploiting cybersecurity in new ways. Also check out the job of the day.

Hackers coulb be hitting you where it hurts, your smartphone or you tablet. Cyber criminals are stepping up in their ways to get your online information and you may be surprised to hear what they are doing now.  Britain's electronic listening agency, GCHQ, is trying to reach individuals with "a keen interest in code breaking and ethical hacking" for new career opportunities. Also check out the job of the day!

Congress may not be able to agree on much theses days but they do realize something needs to be done to better protect the country from a cyber attack.  Because of that very real threat, Congress is headed in the right direction to passing a cyber security bill. A new cyber crime campaign is drawing national attention. The FBI warns of a scheme where crooks launch crippling cyber attacks against banks while simultaneously harvesting your bank-account credentials and making it impossible for you to get your money back once the fraud is complete. Your cellphone could have spyware on it and you don’t even know it.  According to Android developer Trevor Eckhart, over 100 million smartphones track their owners’ every move as a result of preinstalled software from most major carriers. Also check out the job of the day!!!

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigations helped to make a huge arrest, putting behind bars four Manila people accused of hacking numerous trunk lines of multiple U.S. telecommunication companies.  One well-known target was AT&T. The cloud is the next big thing in computer technology and apparently hackers know that.  In order to fight cybercrime in the cloud, Trend Micro, a computer security company, is looking to link up with the International Cybersecurity Protection Alliance to establish the "Global Cyber Nation" in Washington, D.C. Cyber crime is on the rise and some experts say it’s your fault.  Researchers have applied criminological concepts and research methods in the study of cyber-crime, leading to recommendations for IT managers to use in the prevention of cyber-attacks on their networks. Also, check out the job of the day!!!

  Buying a cheap knock off of the hottest designer may seem innocent enough.  However, it’s illegal to copies of high-end merchandise without giving credit or money to the real designers and creators and the FBI stepped in to put some of those people who allegedly sell fake items behind bars. Is it fact or is it fiction.  HP is looking into claims that any LaserJet the company made prior to 2009 could remotely catch on fire on a hacker’s control. Facebook has taken some heat recently for its privacy policy.  Today, it reached an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission regarding the social network's policy on changing privacy controls and informing users of those changes. Also check out the job of the day!!

The UK government wants computer users to feel free to use an open and uncensored Internet but the country is also taking steps to introduce measures to by cyber criminals from the web. The British government is taking a proactive stance to prevent cyber crime.  Last week, the country announced the creation of a cyber security hub as a part of its cyber security strategy. Researchers have been busy trying to make sure the cyber world and the real world safe places for everyone.  They are crafting self-powered sensors for installation in insect cyborgs.  That will enable them to perform surveillance, monitor hazardous environments and assist first-responders in search-and-rescue missions. Also check out the job of the day!!

The United States officially announced that the military has the right to retaliate with military force against a cyber-attack. There’s a big debate going on.  The question is how secure is the Android operating system.  A report came out last week with a report that said mobile malware on Android platforms has climbed 472 percent since July. It apparently was a big payout for one alleged hacker victim.  According to court records, the government paid nearly $2,500 for Sarah Palin’s husband, Todd, to come to the trial of a Tennessee college student who hacked into her email.  The problem is Todd Palin never testified according to court records. Also check out the job of the day!!!

Cyber crime is taking over according to one cyber security expert.  Some believe that you are more likely to be a victim of crime online than in the real world. Cyber crimes are up all over the world, including India.  Most cases pertained to forgery, criminal breach of trust or fraud. It may surprise you to know that even the IT and TMT sector are not immune to cyber security breaches.  New research shows that 75 percent of those enterprises within the TMT sector have reported a security breach so far this year.  That’s an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year. Also listen to hear the job of the day!!

It’s a frightening thought but cyber criminals may have been responsible for a water pump failure at a public water district in Illinois.  Federal officials have confirmed they are investigating the incident. Be careful.  That’s the message from Dr. Abdullah al-Mal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking (QFCHT), when it comes to dealing with the crimes perpetrated through the Internet. Ireland has a major problem with organized crime.  However it’s not the type of organized crime you may be used to hearing about in the news.  Government officials say almost all website hacks in the country have been linked to organized crime gangs.  Their primary motive is believed to be money. Also check out the job of the day!

The well-known hacking group Anonymous has allegedly been at it again.  The group claimed to have leaked thousands of private emails that belonged to Fred Baclagan, a retired California cybercrime investigator.  The hacking was in response to a recent crackdown on Occupy Wall Street. Cyber crime may be creeping its way onto Facebook according to some cyber experts.  Governments around the world will focus on the social networking site as the rise of hacking groups brings an increased threat of cyber warfare. Top leaders from around the world are meeting this week to focus on cybersecurity.  Delegates from around the world are in France to discuss the only international treaty dealing with cybercrime. Also listen to hear the job of the day!

If you thought the News of the World hacking scandal was over, think again.  Some of the victims of the hacking scandal, including celebrities and family members of crime victims, are scheduled to testify at a nationally televised inquiry into media ethics. Technology appears to be an easy target for hackers.  According to a report from Deloitte, three quarters of technology, media and telecoms firms have been victims of cyber attacks this year alone. As the year winds down, things are not looking much better for 2012 when it comes to cyber security.  Experts expect your cellphone will be responsible for more cyber security breaches in the year to come according to security vendor M86. Also listen to hear the job of the day!

Cyber security is quickly climbing up the list of importance for the federal government and apparently with good reason.  Hackers have been busy and cyber thieves have cashed in on innocent victims online. Lawmakers are focusing on cyber security.  One way to ensure change, they say is to add laws to fight cyber crime. One detective went undercover to prove just how serious cyber crime is and the damage it can do.  How did he do it?  He went online and did a lot of work on Facebook. Also, check out the job of the week.  Make sure you tune in!!!

Lying on the Internet could be against the law.  The Department of Justice recently asked Congress to make some changes to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.  Those changes would make it a crime to break terms of service or violate workplace policies. The United States government says it is ready to fight cyber crime if the government is attacked.  The Defense Department says if the President gives an order in response to hostile cyberattacks against the U.S. economy, government or military, it is ready to launch offensive cyber operations against specific foes. There’s a war going on in the cyber world and in order to win, the government says the public and private sectors have to work together.  Cyber security experts say the effort against cyber crime is very complex and the more hands in the pot fighting against cyber crime, the better. Also check out the job of the day!

If the Department of Justice has its way, cybercriminals could be prosecuted in a new way.  The DOJ hopes to include cyber crime under a racketeering law. The final report is out today.  Information from a Congressional advisory panel advising lawmakers on U.S.- China relations showed several things including a new assessment of the malicious cyber activities that hit two U.S. government satellites from 2007 and 2008. According to British police, cyber security helped to make sure the royal wedding went off without a hitch earlier this year.  The Scotland Yard’s cybercrime unit helped to fight off an attack on the international event. Also check out the job of the day!

House lawmakers on Tuesday are slated to mull updating a 1986 anti-hacking law that even ideological opponents agree criminalizes innocent Web surfing. However, when a Senate panel discussed the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act in September, Justice Department officials argued that changing the penalties could let legitimate bad guys off the hook. The cost of securing smart grids around the country is expected to skyrocket in just a few years.  A report that came out this week titled “Smart Grid Security” found that $590 million dollars was spent on smart grid security in 2010.  That number expected to jump to $2 billion dollars by 2016. According to AVG, the average 11-year-old child has "adult skills when it comes to technology." In other words, they can perform any task that an adult can when it comes to surfing the Web, getting a gadget to work, or solving complex computer issues.

It appears that hackers have gone from targeting others to becoming targets themselves.  The major drug cartel Los Zetas is reportedly sending strong messages to both bloggers and hackers.  Last week the group took responsibility for gruesomely decapitating a Mexican blogger and dumping his body in public. Recent reports of the computers used to pilot General Atomics AeronauticalSystems' Predator drones being infected with a computer virus -- one that so far has proven impossible to remove -- are a perfect example of why cyber security is becoming an increasingly hot topic in defense. If you do the crime, you should do the time according to the top cop in England.  The head of the Scotland Yard’s e-crime unit believes cybercrimes should get tough sentences.  Det. Supt Charlie McMurdie criticized judges for going too easy on e-banking fraudsters while throwing the book at the old-school cohorts in crime. Also, listen to hear the job of the day!