Outlook Series | McAfee Intros Cybercrime Center

McAfee Intros Cybercrime Center

28 Apr 2009

Consumers in the United States have lost close to $8.5 billion over the last two years to cybercrime, according to Consumer Reports. In response, McAfee launched the Cybercrime Response Unit (http://www.mcafee.com/cru), the first online center to aid the diagnosis of cybercrime and help an individual recover from the crime.

“With physical crime you know right away if your house has been broken into or your car has been stolen, but with cybercrime, it’s not that obvious. Most people don’t even know they’re a victim, and they rarely know what to do next,” said McAfee President and Chief Executive Officer Dave DeWalt. “The Cybercrime Response Unit is an ‘online 911’ that can triage your situation and direct you to recovery. We’ll get you to the right resources immediately. This is part of our continued effort to fight cybercrime.”

How it works

The Cybercrime Response Unit helps consumers and small business owners identify if they have been the victim of a cybercrime and recommends next steps. The free online service directs victims to appropriate law enforcement, credit agencies and other resources to address their situation.

The site also provides a forensic scanning tool based on McAfee’s Global Threat Intelligence. It assesses whether an individual has malware running on his or her computer or has visited malicious Web sites that may have stolen personal information.

A squad of specially trained Cybercrime Response Unit Agents is available to assist victims by telephone in the most serious cases. The Cybercrime Response Unit Web site directs those cases to the toll free phone lines as appropriate.

“We want to help the victim to understand the types of risky online behaviors that can lead to cybercrime so they can better avoid it in the future, and be empowered to use the Internet safely,” said DeWalt. “Ultimately, educated users help us fight against cybercriminals.”

Developed in consultation with leading cybercrime experts

The Cybercrime Response Unit was developed in consultation with leading national cybercrime experts and using resources from the Federal Trade Commission and WiredSafety.org, among others, as well as McAfee’s Initiative to Fight Cybercrime Advisory Council of industry experts.

“For about $30, cyber crooks anywhere in the world can buy a blank credit card, complete with holographic security markings used by legitimate credit card companies. Most of the time, consumers don’t even know they’ve been a victim of this type of crime until it’s too late,” said Paul Kurtz, a former White House advisor and consultant on the Cybercrime Response Unit. “Criminals are becoming more sophisticated at targeting online users using stealth malware, creating a growing need for support centers like this.”

Specifically, the Cybercrime Response Unit helps people to:

Determine the likelihood that their computer may be linked to cybercrime
Take the appropriate steps to report an online crime
Take the appropriate steps to protect themselves
Work with the right financial institutions and creditors
If a business, contact the right authorities in cases of intellectual property theft or copyright infringement
Avoid being a victim of cybercrime through prevention advice and tips

How do users know if they’ve become victims?

Individual and small businesses owners should look for the following unusual activity, which may indicate they are a victim of cybercrime:

The computer running slower than usual or more pop-ups or unsolicited e-mail appearing
Unexplained charges or suspicious activity on a financial account
Lost or stolen computers may place a victim at risk to subsequent cybercrime

“We’re doing everything we can to keep users safe and win the fight against cybercrime,” said DeWalt. “We are educating consumers and businesses, developing technology that protects them and working with law enforcement to ensure that cybercriminals are brought to justice.”