Cyberspace Identity Threats Today
Crooks and Spies Using the Internet to Commit Identity Theft
Oct 18, 2008
Cyperspace criminals are a rising threat as their attacks come in the forms of identity theft, deny access to website, compromise sensitive information, or introduce "botnets" that spread viruses and covertly co-op computers to carry out data theft. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Cyber Divisions IC3 Program is a buffer between them and Internet users.
Cyberspace Crimes Threat
Crooks and spies using the Internet to commit crimes against individuals, businesses and to attack government networks are getting more sophisticated, and the increasing number of these crimes not only impacts the economy but threatens national security. At a press conference on October 17, 2008 Shawn Henry, Assistant Director of the FBI's Cyber Division, revealed that there are thousands of open cases into cyber crimes and organized cyber attacks and detailed the strategy being used to protect the nations networks.
Cyberspace Crimes Detection
International partnering with the United States recently announced a major takedown of a transnational criminal network that waas buying and selling stolen financial information through an online forum known as "Dark Market." There are a number of countries who have an interest in stealing information from the U.S. According to Henry, "there are as many as two dozen nations that have taken an "aggresive interest" in penetrating U.S. networks.... and in the past year the malicious activity has become much more prevalent."
Organized Virtual Gangs
New groups of hackers---virtual gangs---are a growing threat as well, banding together to pool their expertise and carrying out coordinated cyber attacks. Henry compared them to safe cracker bank robbers of the past, who needed crooks with varying skills to pull off the job. In the cyberworld, these virtual gang members do not need to physically meet to commit their crimes.
Combatting Cyberspace Crime
The Cyber Division of the FBI has created a three-fold strategic plan, The 3 Ps: Prioritize, Proactive, Partnership.
- Prioritizing is going after the most critical threats.
- Proactive means adopting the same time-tested investigation techniques that have been successful in physical crime investigations---the use of informants, electronic surveillance, and placement of undercover agents to penetrate and dismantle virtual criminal operations.
- Partnerships means building even stronger relationships with law enforcement agencies worldwide. Countries involved include Great Britian, Canada, Russia and Turkey which swap best practices and techniques.
How Complaints Become Cases
Identity theft is one of the greatest threats to individuals. The FBI suggests that victims:
- Contact the fraud department of the three major credit bureaus and get a "fraud alert" place on your file.
- Notify your creditors, determine whether any accounts have been fraudulently accessed, close those accounts, and use new passwords when opening accounts.
- File a report with your local law enforcement agency; retain a copy because it may be requested as proof by creditors or businesses.
- File a report with Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) so agents can apply their analytical tools and expertise to hone in on the perpetrators.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
IC3's mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime. The IC3 gives the victims of cyber crime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local and international level, IC3 provides a central referral mechanism for complaints involving Internet related crimes.
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