A window into the true impact of Cybercrime: are you the two-out-of three or the one-out-of three?

Today we have released a report that shines a light onto the true impact and cost of cybercrime. It is staggering that, based on a worldwide survey, that we at Norton commissioned, two-thirds of people (65%) admitted that they had fallen victim to cybercrime. For the UK, the figure was, just slightly better, at 59%.

Not unsurprisingly, people are getting really annoyed (51% of respondents) and angry (58%) about the impact of cybercrime. However, they blame themselves for being attacked and only 3% of people do not think that it will happen to them.

Despite the emotional burden and the universal threat, and incidents of cybercrime, people are not changing their behaviours – with only 51% of adults saying they would change their behaviour if they became a victim. Fewer than half (44%) reported crime to the police. The point here is that if we as individuals and as a society keep this quiet then we help the criminals stay under the radar.

So what it the cost of cybercrime? Well, in the UK, the cost to resolve cybercrime comes to an average of £103 and about 25-days. This is the down-stream impact and as you can see it is not insubstantial.

The moral compass for some us is leading us into problems. Nearly half of respondents think it is legal to download a single music track, album or movie without paying. But we, in the security community know that downloading files, from sites of dubious authenticity, is a well worn and effective infection vector. The advice really needs to be, ‘there is no such thing as a free music track/album/video’!

Look, the best defence against cybercrime, and the best way to protect yourself, is to surf the internet with up-to-date, comprehensive security software.

You can access the full Norton Cybercrime Report: The Human Impact here.

September 8, 2010 | Filed Under Announcements, Security 

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