Thread: Connections between cyber crime and recession: McAfee

Physical threats such as terrorism, and the worsening state of the world's
economies have diverted the attentions of most governments away from online security, according to McAfee. The company has warned that recession is prime time for criminals who prey on anxiety and uncertainty.



"There will be more victims of cybercrime as security is something that isn't visibly beneficial, and some people may start cutting corners-for example, choosing not to update to the latest patches or versions of security software puts them even more at risk" said a company representative.

Consumers search online for shopping bargains and better jobs, but are often distracted and therefore more easily duped, the company says. Instances of phony email messages claiming to be from banks responding to customers' worries are on the rise, as are bogus employment sites which only collect users' personal details when they sign up. Further, surfers are more easily tempted by get-rich-quick scams that promise big bucks.