Cyber Threat!: How to Manage the Growing Risk of Cyber Attacks

Chapter 1The Rise of Cyber Organized Crime and Its Global Impact

The infectiousness of crime is like that of the plague.

—Napoleon Bonaparte

What is the cyber threat? The most basic definition is uncommonly simple: It is that common ground where human beings, the Internet, and computers interact. The resulting threat can be an honest mistake—or a malicious strike. An honest mistake can be addressed through increased awareness about the importance of handling sensitive information. The malicious strike is different.

The crime wave of the future is here: the growing criminal conspiracy known as transnational organized crime, or TOC. Criminal networks and organized groups work throughout multiple countries to plan and execute their business goals. Their operations involve many of the most despicable of crimes: human trafficking, the sexual exploitation of adults and children, narcotics trafficking, violent crimes, corruption, arms trafficking, and even the selling of human body parts and endangered species. Unfortunately, TOC is an early adopter of new technology and strong security.

Transnational organized crime is somewhat fluidly defined by the United Nations as “offences committed in more than one State” and “those that take place in one State but are planned or controlled in another. Also included are crimes in one State committed by groups that operate in more than one State, and crimes committed in one State that has substantial effects in another State.”¹

Transnational ...