#8220;sniffers” to steal your sensitive data. These programs look for particular information such as passwords or credit card numbers in which the hackers turn around and use to their benefit. Last year, a so-called “sniffer” was used to steal more than 100,000 credit numbers which were stored on the server of an internet service provider. The top ten types of high tech criminal activity are reported as:1.Virus infection 83%;2.Abusive use of the internet 69%;3.Laptop theft 58%;4.Unauthorized insider use 40%;5.Telecommunication fraud 27%;6.Information theft 21%;7.Network break-in 20%;8.Sabotage 14%9.Financial fraud 12%10.Active wiretap 4%. (Computer Security Institute for the FBJ)As you can see, computer crime isn’t limited to any one area or business. And nothing boosts awareness of computer security better than a few widely publicized breaches. In 1998, a federal prosecutor charged a former employee of Forbe’s Inc with sabotaging Forbes computers. The accused sought revenge after his dismissal in 1997 by tying up one of Forbe’s computer lines, from his home telephone, for a total of 55 minutes. The company stated it was like putting Krazy Glue in the telephone line. Estimated damage $100,000. In 1999, despite Microsoft’s claims that it took “advanced” skills to create a hack in its free, web-based Hotmail service, which exposed millions of user’s accounts. Security experts said the hack was actually very “user friendly” and easily shared. In August, 2000, Supermarket great “Safeway” had failed to get its web site up and running two weeks after a suspected hacker attach led to its closure. The sight was shut down after numerous shoppers received an email hoax telling them to shop elsewhere. In 1994-95, an organized crime group headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia, transferred 10.4 million dollars from Citibank into accounts all over the ...
