This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/technology/6938796.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Government 'must act on e-crime' | Government 'must act on e-crime' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The government must do more to protect internet users from the threat of e-crime, says a House of Lords report. | The government must do more to protect internet users from the threat of e-crime, says a House of Lords report. |
| The Lords Science and Technology Committee said the internet was now "the playground of criminals". | The Lords Science and Technology Committee said the internet was now "the playground of criminals". |
| The report criticised the government's current "Wild West" approach of leaving internet security up to the individual as "inefficient and unrealistic". | The report criticised the government's current "Wild West" approach of leaving internet security up to the individual as "inefficient and unrealistic". |
| A Home Office spokesperson said the government was examining the report and would respond shortly. | A Home Office spokesperson said the government was examining the report and would respond shortly. |
| "We are firm believers in the internet. It is a huge force for good. But it relies on the confidence of millions of users," said Lord Broers, chairman of the committee that published the Personal Internet Security report. | "We are firm believers in the internet. It is a huge force for good. But it relies on the confidence of millions of users," said Lord Broers, chairman of the committee that published the Personal Internet Security report. |
| "You can't just rely on individuals to take responsibility for their own security. They will always be out-foxed by the bad guys." | "You can't just rely on individuals to take responsibility for their own security. They will always be out-foxed by the bad guys." |
| Responsibility for protecting users also fell to "the IT industry and the software vendors, the banks and internet traders, and the internet service providers", he said. | Responsibility for protecting users also fell to "the IT industry and the software vendors, the banks and internet traders, and the internet service providers", he said. |
| 'True picture' | 'True picture' |
| The House of Lords report acknowledged that there were no accurate statistics on e-crimes, but said that it was "not surprising" that public anxiety was growing. | The House of Lords report acknowledged that there were no accurate statistics on e-crimes, but said that it was "not surprising" that public anxiety was growing. |
| The report cited a government survey that suggested more Britons feared internet crime than burglary. | The report cited a government survey that suggested more Britons feared internet crime than burglary. |
| You can't legislate for better internet security Lord Broers | You can't legislate for better internet security Lord Broers |
| The Get Safe Online study found 21% of respondents felt most at risk from net crime, while 16% worried most about being burgled. | The Get Safe Online study found 21% of respondents felt most at risk from net crime, while 16% worried most about being burgled. |
| Internet crimes can include malicious hackers taking control of a PC, or online phishing scams where bogus websites are used to try to trick people into handing over confidential information, such as bank details. | Internet crimes can include malicious hackers taking control of a PC, or online phishing scams where bogus websites are used to try to trick people into handing over confidential information, such as bank details. |
| Commenting on the government survey, the House of Lords committee said: "This raises the question whether the government needs to do more to help establish a true picture of the scale of the problem, the risks to individuals and the cost to the economy. We believe the answer is yes." | Commenting on the government survey, the House of Lords committee said: "This raises the question whether the government needs to do more to help establish a true picture of the scale of the problem, the risks to individuals and the cost to the economy. We believe the answer is yes." |
| The Lords' report recommended a number of measures to help boost the confidence of internet users. | The Lords' report recommended a number of measures to help boost the confidence of internet users. |
| "The state also needs to do more to protect the public, not only the government itself, but regulators like Ofcom, the police and the court system," said Lord Broers. | "The state also needs to do more to protect the public, not only the government itself, but regulators like Ofcom, the police and the court system," said Lord Broers. |
| Specifically, the report called for a central system for reporting of e-crime. | Specifically, the report called for a central system for reporting of e-crime. |
| In addition, it said there should be an increase in the resources available to the police and criminal justice system to catch and prosecute e-criminals. | In addition, it said there should be an increase in the resources available to the police and criminal justice system to catch and prosecute e-criminals. |
| David Emm, of security firm Kaspersky Lab, agreed that a central unit could help. | David Emm, of security firm Kaspersky Lab, agreed that a central unit could help. |
| "A wider agency can only be of benefit, if only to gauge the size of the problem," he told the BBC News website. "You can't manage something if you don't know the scale of the problem." | "A wider agency can only be of benefit, if only to gauge the size of the problem," he told the BBC News website. "You can't manage something if you don't know the scale of the problem." |
| We are in discussions with the police about effectively policing the internet Home Office spokesperson Net crime fear for Britons | We are in discussions with the police about effectively policing the internet Home Office spokesperson Net crime fear for Britons |
| But, he said, there had been a central law enforcement agency to tackle e-crime in the past. | But, he said, there had been a central law enforcement agency to tackle e-crime in the past. |
| The National High Tech Crime Unit was merged with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) in April 2006. | The National High Tech Crime Unit was merged with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) in April 2006. |
| "I've had concerns since then that there wasn't as much of a focus on high-tech crime," he said. | "I've had concerns since then that there wasn't as much of a focus on high-tech crime," he said. |
| Card abuse | Card abuse |
| The committee recognised that the responsibility for UK net users - around 63% of the population - did not rest solely with the government. | The committee recognised that the responsibility for UK net users - around 63% of the population - did not rest solely with the government. |
| "You can't legislate for better internet security. But the government can put in place incentives for the private sector to up their game. And they can invest in better data protection and law enforcement," said Lord Broers. | "You can't legislate for better internet security. But the government can put in place incentives for the private sector to up their game. And they can invest in better data protection and law enforcement," said Lord Broers. |
| The committee suggested that a kite-mark should be set up that would identify internet service providers that guaranteed a secure service. | The committee suggested that a kite-mark should be set up that would identify internet service providers that guaranteed a secure service. |
| Hackers stole nearly 45m credit card numbers from TK Maxx Hackers target TK Maxx TK Maxx credit card fraud | Hackers stole nearly 45m credit card numbers from TK Maxx Hackers target TK Maxx TK Maxx credit card fraud |
| In addition it said that government should encourage banks and other companies trading online to improve data security by establishing a law that would require them to notify a central authority when there was a breach. | In addition it said that government should encourage banks and other companies trading online to improve data security by establishing a law that would require them to notify a central authority when there was a breach. |
| This was important in cases, such as happened in March this year, when hackers stole the credit card details of 45 million TK Maxx customers. | This was important in cases, such as happened in March this year, when hackers stole the credit card details of 45 million TK Maxx customers. |
| "Potentially any one of these cards, belonging to innocent individuals, could be used online for illegal purposes in transactions relating to terrorism, or to purchase child abuse images," the committee said. | "Potentially any one of these cards, belonging to innocent individuals, could be used online for illegal purposes in transactions relating to terrorism, or to purchase child abuse images," the committee said. |
| It also said that steps should be taken to establish legal liability for damage resulting from security flaws found in hardware or software. | It also said that steps should be taken to establish legal liability for damage resulting from security flaws found in hardware or software. |
| Responding to the report, a Home Office spokesperson said: "The key to tackling online crime is prevention, which is why across government we are working closely with industry and law enforcement agencies to improve safety while also seeking to raise awareness to improve people's ability to protect themselves. | Responding to the report, a Home Office spokesperson said: "The key to tackling online crime is prevention, which is why across government we are working closely with industry and law enforcement agencies to improve safety while also seeking to raise awareness to improve people's ability to protect themselves. |
| "We are in discussions with the police about effectively policing the internet and looking at what measures can be taken. | "We are in discussions with the police about effectively policing the internet and looking at what measures can be taken. |
| "We are grateful for the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee's contribution and work in investigating this important area and will look at the report carefully and respond to the committee shortly." | "We are grateful for the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee's contribution and work in investigating this important area and will look at the report carefully and respond to the committee shortly." |
| Have you been a victim of cyber crime? Send us your story by filling out the form below. | |