BRITISH police are making a special plea to business to report computer crime after announcing a huge increase in the activities of hackers and Eastern European criminals. Detectives are so concerned they are even prepared to waive its mandatory obligation to prosecute in return for more information.
Companies which have been victims of cyber crime have traditionally been reluctant to talk to police because of the bad publicity a court case could arouse.
The move, timed to coincide with this week's three day E-Crime Congress, organised by the National High Tech Crime Unit, represents an increasing recognition from the police of the damage computer crime is wreaking on UK business. According to the DTI's Information Security Breaches Survey 2002, computer hacking and virus attacks are costing £10bn p.a. and 78% of large-cap companies have experienced some kind of electronic attack in the past year. The average cost of a security breach is £30,000.
