In 2013, over 556 million people worldwide fell victim to cybercrime, driven by motivations such as financial gain and political agendas. Cybercriminals employ tactics like malware and phishing to exploit vulnerabilities in financial institutions and collect sensitive personal information, impacting both individuals and the economy. To mitigate risks, individuals are advised to limit personal information sharing, use secure passwords, and stay informed about cyber threats.

1. Cybercriminals Are Lurking
According to Go-Gulf.com, more than 556 million people were victims of cybercrime worldwide
in 2013. That equals 1.5 million victims per day and 18 victims per second. Motivational factors
behind cybercrime include political gain, revenge, and cyber espionage or cyber warfare.
These faceless cybercriminals are either members of terrorist groups, disgruntled employees,
someone seeking serious pay days or people without a conscious. Terrorist groups such as Isis
are recruiting young computer hackers with top level security clearances to wage cyberwar on
U.S. intelligence agencies. Vulnerable targets include telecommunications systems, energy grids,
and air gapped military networks that are not directly connected to the Internet.
Criminal Intent
An April 2015 article published by the New Zealand Herald, states that Islamic cyber groups
used laptops to hack the New York Times, the Financial Times, and other websites critical to the
regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Hiding under a bed of buried online data, these
dangerous, yet unknown faceless creatures of mass destruction are waging a new kind of war on
terror.

2. Cybercriminals are collecting your social security numbers, healthcare records, security codes,
pin numbers and financial records in an attempt to line their pockets, while crippling our nation’s
economy. Financial institutions are one of the most vulnerable operations to potential a
cyberattack. Savvy hackers knows as “crackers” are capable of breaking into a banking network
without authorization. They’re intent? Financial gain and determination to wreak havoc and
cause chaos. Customers’ financial records are potentially suspect to fraudulent actively and
banks would be fiscally responsible for reimbursing their customers. This could put a monetary
strain on larger financial institutions directly affecting the way business is conducted on Wall
Street and potentially crippling our nation’s economy.
Victimized
According to a November 2014 Federal Bureau of Investigation report, more than 6,800
complaints of cybercrime where reported by the Internet Crime Complaint Center totaling more
than $20 million dollars from 2009 to 2014.

3. Victims are often enticed by an e-mail offering or banner advertisements from a cybercriminal
that peaks the interest of the consumer. E-mails usually contain viruses also known as malware,
logic bombs, adware, or ransomeware, which directly attack your computer making it inoperable
until you pay the cybercriminals a fee.
Safe and Secure
So how do Americans protect themselves from becoming a victim of cybercrime? According to
a WHBF News, a TV station in Davenport Iowa, those of us who use the Internet on a regular
basis should limit what personal information we share with others, password protect their mobile
phones, and refrain from sharing too much information on social sites.

4. While on the surface this sounds like reasonable sound advice, cybercriminals are finding ways
to remain one step ahead of the curve. Crafty and sneaky tactics make it almost impossible to
prevent cybercriminals from accessing information from just about anywhere in the world.
Wikihow.com offers two basic tips for helping you to protect yourself from a cybercrime beyond
just limiting what information is shared with others online.
1. Type all links directly into your web browser instead of directly clicking on an e-mail
link. Clicking on links, either in e-mails or on social sites can be a trap to obtain your
username and password.
2. Take the time to learn how cyber criminals work through e-mail, malware, and spyware
operating systems.
It is your responsibility to make sure that there are necessary security measures in place to help
prevent a cybercrime from occurring. Think about incorporating a strategic plan that calls for
security passwords to be guarded and protected. Write them down some where and keep them
OFF line. Your employees’ access to work related material should be restricted or encrypted and
inaccessible from Wi-Fi hot spots. If possible, have a team of security experts continually
monitor all online activity that prevents malware from spreading viruses throughout your
company databases.

5. Aliah Wright, an expert on digital communications and author of the book, “A Necessary Evil:
Managing Employee Activity on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn … and the Hundreds of Other
Social Media Sites,” says employers should “train their employees to think before they click.
Consider the source. For example, ask them to consider first why someone may send them
information they did not request and to Google news items that sound outrageous before clicking
on them from a Facebook page.
“Malware lives across the Internet—not just on social sites or in e-mails,” she said. “Be savvy
about the things you share online and the items you click on as well.”
While we are all potential victims of cybercrime, it make sense to take the precautionary
measures to protect ourselves from the possibilities of it happening to you and your company.