Hi-tech criminals target UK firms.
The vast majority were through hacking, spyware and virus attack.
 

Hi-tech crime is fashionable among criminals British businesses are under siege by criminals and vandals using technology for financial gain or to cause havoc. A survey by the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit found 83% of UK companies have been the victims of computer crime. The vast majority were through Hacking, Spyware, and Virus attacks. On average, companies face 254 assaults from malicious programs every year. Other computer crimes reported in the study included fraud, theft of key data and denial-of-service attacks. The survey was unveiled at the second E-Crime Congress in London. DCS Len Hynds  told the conference that some companies are being hit by "multi-million pound losses" as a result of hi-tech crime. "Whilst it is too early to put an accurate figure on the total financial impact for UK business all the indicators suggest that we are talking about billions rather than millions," he said. Money pit The cost of dealing with attacks over the last year by disinfecting computers, investigating who has committed crimes and securing networks and machines was put by survey respondents at £195m. Businesses Attacked

Virus / Spyware/Hack Attack 77% Denial of service 20% Financial Fraud 17% System Penetration 11% Criminal use of the internet 17% Corporate site spoofing 15% Source: NHTCU Hi-Tech Crime Survey  Although viruses caused more businesses problems, it was fraud that cost firms the most money. Cleaning up after a virus attack cost UK firms about £27.8m but financial fraud drained company coffers of £121m, according to the survey. Many companies responding in the survey, 20%, said they had been the subject of a denial-of-service attack that bombarded their website with enormous amounts of data. Others had corporate websites spoofed by thieves seeking to trick customers into revealing key details. The study also found that larger firms were more likely to have an in-house team that has been set up to deal with any serious hi-tech crime incidents. Almost one-third of those questioned have no formal team ready to tackle computer crimes. Smaller companies with no dedicated IT staff need an all in one Unified Threat Management system that will provide IT security for them. Cost of Hi-tech Crime

Financial fraud: £121m Virus attacks: £27.8m Criminal use of the net: £23m Theft of data: £6.6m Corporate site spoofing: £4.8m Denial of service: £1.3m Source: NHTCU Hi-Tech Crime Survey  On the virus front, many of the malicious programs in circulation now are being put to specifically criminal intent. Few are simply nuisance programs despatched simply to inconvenience. Up to 30% of the spam or junk e-mail that travels the net is thought to be relayed by hijacked computers that have been compromised by viruses and which are under the control of anyone who takes the time to search for them. The E-Crime Congress is organised around the theme of "Designing out Hi-Tech crime" and aims to get businesses, security firms and police collaborating more closely to share information about crimes, criminals and prevention techniques. Up to 400 delegates are expected to attend the summit from law enforcement organisations, computer security firms, data forensics outfits, consumer groups and big business. Speakers include Len Hynds, head of the NHTCU; Bill Hughes, head of the National Crime Squad; Sir John Stevens, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and Tim Wright who heads the Home Office's Hi-Tech crime section.