Tue, Jul 14, 2009 | 21:56 BST
Poor IT job market could increase instances of white-collar crime
According to a Cisco Systems mid-year security report, the weak IT job market could lead to an increase in online crime as those with computer skills turn to scams to supplement smaller incomes.
It was even suggested that some “disgruntled employees” could target former employers, and insiders fired or laid-off with pertinent information “can be especially damaging for an organization because insiders know security weaknesses.”
Cisco issued a warning to firms that use temporary or contract IT consultants to “be particularly vigilant about the level and term of their access to sensitive data.”
The report cited a conversation with a botmaster who revealed that an acquaintance had earned $5-10K per week from phising bank accounts.
Yikes. Remember to always be vigilant just in case a pissed off employee at your favorite gaming company goes through customer records. Otherwise, they could be living it up in the Bahamas with a hot chicky on your dime.
Via Reuters.
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Posted in: Crime, Financials, Politics
Tags: IT crime
4 comments
#1
theevilaires
15/07/09, 2:28 am
lol doesn’t this fall in line of what you do for a living psychotext
#2
Psychotext
15/07/09, 2:32 am
White collar crime? Yeah, I’m all over it.
On a more serious note, this sort of stuff is gold for me. I can easily use these sort of articles to sell full security audits by overpriced contractors. \o/
#3
theevilaires
15/07/09, 2:34 am
you said you had your own small IT business, did you not?
#4
Psychotext
15/07/09, 9:43 am
Sort of. It’s as much business consultancy as IT… hence the second part of that comment.