More IT Pros Could Turn To E-Crime In Poor Economy

snydeq writes to mention that a recent survey by KPMG shows that many people feel that out-of-work IT workers will be much more tempted to turn to criminal activities due to the down economy. This, coupled with an E-crime survey that shows fraud committed by managers, employees, and customers tripled between 2007 and 2008 paints an interesting picture. "In other survey results, 45 percent of respondents who handle critical national infrastructure said they are seeing an increase in the number of attacks on their systems. Fifty-one percent of respondents from the same category said the technical sophistication of those attacks is getting better. Sixty-eight percent said that of all kinds of malicious code they felt Trojan horse programs — ones that are designed to look harmless but can steal data along with other functions — had the most impact on their businesses. Rootkits are the next highest concern, followed by spyware, worms, viruses, mobile malicious code and, finally, adware."

Comments

Heh

[Niris]

This is kind of a duh thing, isn't it? When the economy goes south, crime of all sorts that leads to profit increases. There just happens to be a lot of people out there with enough background knowledge in IT to make a profit off of criminal acts in IT.

Re:Heh

[JustOK]

They're just trying to write their own bonus packages, much like the execs did.

Re:Heh

[Jurily]

There just happens to be a lot of people out there with enough background knowledge in IT to make a profit off of criminal acts in IT.

Also, there is no suck thing as "E-Crime".

Unless you want to say an axe murderer is only a misguided tree cutting professional.

Re:Heh

[Anonymous Coward]

Not really. I'd just say, "When economy is bad, crime increases."

I expect IT people are probably less susceptible to layoff than, say, warehouse laborers. I'd also guess that they're generally more honest than your average employee since they're often in a position where they need to be.

So really, I'd guess there will be more crime all around, but a disproportionately low percentage of it will come from out-of-work IT people.

Long in short, article is total FUD.

Re:Heh

[ssintercept]

a very duh thing indeed. from the linked article: "In poor economy, more IT pros could turn to e-crime" (emphasis mine).

you could say that about anybody or any profession during hard times.

Apparently, IT Pros are Pikers...

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Financial Pros already managed to turn crime into a poor economy.

Criminal activities

[Narpak]

Once a person out of desperation, or greed, turns to crime to make money for the necessities of life; it is only natural that they use whatever skills they have to the task. An increase in unemployment among IT professionals, and a tough job-marked all around, this sort of development don't surprise me.

Re:we need an e-Serif

[eln]

I agree...we have been sans-Serif for too long!

Oblig. Office Space reference

[Anonymous Coward]

"You have two options: unemployment or early retirement."

Re:Oblig. Office Space reference

[alxkit]

two words: conjugal visits

Re:Oblig. Office Space reference

[jmelchio]

I think you're forgetting one option; you could become an entrepeneur. Then again, I might be 'Jumping to Conclusions'.

Re:Oblig. Office Space reference

[Kugrian]

Five words: you must be new here

Erm? How is this bad?

[Jonas Buyl]

So if 45% says the attacks are on the rise that means 55% said attacks are getting less or equally frequent, right? The 51% is pretty much the same thing. Some analysis you got there.

Re:Erm? How is this bad?

[ConsumerOfMany]

If you survey 100 people who were mugged once last year about how many times they have been mugged this year and 50% said the same (lets say 1) and 50% said increased to 2, then you would have a 50% increase (from 100 to 150 total) this year. So yeas, these stats can be perfectly valid.

Re:Erm? How is this bad?

[Kugrian]

This is the epitome of Sloshdat reporting..

Sloshdat: Drinks for nerds. Drinks that matter.

Thats weird.. I just got this in my email..

[mewsenews]

Mr. Joe Plomber
Representative, Accounting Department.
AIG, United States

Dear Sir ,

I am Plmber, joe, the Represenative in charge of Auditing and Accounting section of AIG of USA with due respect and regards. I have decided to contact you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the transaction.

During our investigation and auditing in this bank, my department came across a very huge sum of money belonging to Bernie MAdoff who died on March 12 in a hunting accident and the fund has been dormant in his/her account with this bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either from his family or relation.

Although personally, I kept this information secret within myself to enable the whole transactions and idea be splendid and successful during the time of execution.

The said amount was USD$ 5000000,Five Million. I am overjoyed to say that with the introduction of internet and Website, I was opportune and lucky to have come across your Contact through this satellite media. As it may Interest you to know, Meanwhile all the arrangement to put claim over this asset as the bonafide next of kin to the deceased, get the required approval and transfer this money to a foreign account has been put in place.

Directives and needed information will be forwarded to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to helpfully assist us and also benefit your self through this amazing business opportunity.

In fact I could have done this deal alone but because Of my position in this country as a civil servant, we are not allowed to claim a foreign account, this is the actual reason why it will require a intermedary Or consultant who will forward claims as the next of kin. With affidavit of trust to this bank and also Present a foreign account where he will need the money to be retransfer into. I will not fail to assure you that this transaction is 100% cromulent.

On smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 14% of the total Sum as gratification, while 3% will be set aside upon conclusion, to take care of expenses that may arise during the time Of transfer both local and international like shipping, bribes, e.t.c, while 78% will be for me and my partner.

Please, you have been advised to keep very confidential as I am still in service and intend to retire from service after I conclude this stunning deal with you. I will be watch the whole situation here in this bank until you confirm the money in your account and ask us to come down to your country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages indicated and to discuss incredible investment opportunities, either in your country or any country you helpfully advise us to invest in.

All other necessary information will be sent to you When I hear from you. I suggest you get back to me on my private e-mail address: princeamir@worldzia.ua as Soon as possible stating your wish in this deal.

Yours pleasantly,

Plobmer, Joe Agust

Poor economy affecting IT less

[cryfreedomlove]

I'm not buying this story at all. I live and work in Silicon Valley. I do see lots of folks getting laid off at a higher rate than in the past. At the same time, I see the same folks quickly finding new work. Sometimes it involves a pay cut, often it does not. I just don't see IT in this area being affected as deeply as other professions in other parts of the country. It is not bad enough in IT that good people are turning to lives of crime to make ends meet.

Re:Poor economy affecting IT less

[jellomizer]

I think most of this is from self proclaimed IT Pros, vs. Real ones.

Oh noez!

[Munpe Q]

sum 1 stolz my m3ga hurtz!

Break out Paul Simon...

[GPLDAN]

The problem is all inside your head, my manager said to me
The answer is easy if you take it logically
Id like to help you in your struggle to be free
There must be fifty ways to leave your employer
He said its really not my habit to intrude
Furthermore, I hope my meaning wont be lost or misconstrued
But Ill repeat myself at the risk of being crude
There must be fifty ways to leave your employer
Fifty ways to leave your employer


Just slip a virus out the back, jack
Make a new botnet plan, stan
You dont need to be coy, roy
Just get yourself free with stolen accounts!
Hop on the ddos bus, gus
You dont need to discuss much
Just drop off the encryption key, lee
And get yourself free
He said it grieves me so to see you in such pain
I wish there was something I could do to make you smile again
I said I appreciate that and would you please explain
why the fuck you laid me off


He said why dont we both just sleep on it tonight
And I believe in the morning youll begin to see the light
And then he blew me off and I realized he probably was right
There must be fifty ways to leave your employer
Fifty ways to leave your employer

Re:screw that

[Facetious]

No more "Breaking Bad" for you.

I wonder if you go to the

[geekoid]

ePrison for committing an eCrime.

Re:I wonder if you go to the

[Harnish]

So what would ePrison be? AOL?

Re:I wonder if you go to the

[geekoid]

Prodigy

Re:FAQ

[morgan_greywolf]

I googled for the ecrime howto but couldn't find it. Link please.

Try reading this zine and this zine, too. This is also recommended. Try here, too. Start searching forums, IRC, etc. Subscribe to all the major vulnerability sites, too. Learn to code, if you don't already know how. Get skills in C, assembler, Java, SQL, Visual Basic, Python, PHP, Perl, Unix, Linux, Windows, DNS, TCP/IP, routing protocols, Apache, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, etc. Understand how networks and systems work, architecturally speaking, from a high-level all the way down to the physical hardware.

The learning curve is pretty steep for anyone who wishes to ascend beyond the level of 'l337 skr1p7 k1dd13'.

Be aware, however, that the penalties for getting caught are very high. Think Kevin Mitnick.

I don't know who the wiseass is

[Critical Facilities]

that tagged this story "eHamburglar", but I want to thank you. For whatever reason, that struck me so funny that I laughed out loud...so loudly that I can only truly call it a "guffaw", and as a result, everyone within earshot of my office is convinced I'm off my meds.

Re:Freudian slip?

[SCPRedMage]

So, you "suck" a lot, then?

Its a good thing.

[mevets]

Look at how mired in poorly functioning, slow, useless software the entire IT world is. These guys could bring about the end of crime....