Cyber Crime Becoming #1 Crime in North America

    CALGARY, May 21 /CNW Telbec/ - Cyber crime is now the most significant
challenge facing law enforcement organizations in Canada. The results of a
nationwide Deloitte survey, commissioned by the Canadian Association of Police
Boards (CAPB) to determine the magnitude and impact of cyber crime on
Canadians, has indicated that cyber crime is a much more serious threat than
previously believed. CAPB considers the results of this survey to represent a
"call to action".
    "We knew that many law enforcement agencies were seeing impacts but,
without good numbers, it was hard to get a true sense of how significant the
threat was," says Ian Wilms, chair of the Canadian Association of Police
Boards. "We now know, thanks to our survey and the efforts of other
organizations, that cyber crime is surpassing drug trafficking and is very
close to becoming the #1 crime in the nation."
    "As a result, the average citizen is now more likely to be a victim of
crime through the Internet than on the street or in their home," says Wilms.
"Even if they don't own a computer, their information may be on someone else's
computer or with a business that uses the Internet which can put them at
risk."
    "And, just like drug trafficking, cyber crime has a very real impact on
victims...unfortunately, it is an invisible threat to many Canadians," he
adds.
    Combining the results of the CAPB Cyber Crime in Canada survey with other
studies, Wilms says agencies are now realizing that the crime forecast looks
grim. With a huge upswing in malicious cyber attacks reported, Wilms says the
"landscape of law enforcement has changed dramatically."
    "Right now, the criminals have all the advantages and we are struggling
to keep up and every day we fall further behind," he says. "The pool of
victims grows larger every day while the pool of perpetrators also gets
larger, younger and more sophisticated...this is a new era for police,
fighting a new type of criminal."
    With little funding and already-overworked officers, the fight against
cyber crime "has to be shared," says Wilms. "This is now a global, societal
problem that will require a coordinated, intelligent and powerful response."
    "Technology crime units can no longer be viewed as 'nice to have' within
our police services," he says. Instead, Wilms says these units must become an
integral, key component of any police service strategy including supplying the
appropriate resources for computer forensics, cyber crime investigations and
cyber crime prevention."
    One of the key recommendations from the CAPB survey is the establishment
of a dedicated Canadian centre where law enforcement and various agencies can
work together to combat cyber crime.
    "Canada has many leading experts...ultimately, this is an opportunity for
our country to assume a leadership role by helping to become peacekeepers of
the Internet," Wilms says.
    The CAPB survey was funded by Public Safety Canada, the Government of
Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security and the City of Calgary.

    Attachments to this release include a fast facts backgrounder and a copy
of the report's key recommen- dations. A full copy of the survey report is
available for download at www.capb.caFast Facts
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    In January 2008, the Canadian Association of Police Boards (CAPB)
commissioned a survey to determine the magnitude and impact of cyber crime on
Canadians. The survey, conducted by Deloitte LLP, consisted of three
components; an Ipsos Reid market research survey of 587 Canadians, an
extensive interview process with 63 key contacts throughout law enforcement,
prosecutions, government, academia and industry and an analysis of open source
survey data. The following statistics are provided from a number of sources,
including this survey report.

    Key findings of the CAPB Cyber Crime in Canada report:

    - 49% of respondents have been a victim of cyber crime (cyber crimes
      include computer viruses, banking and personal information being lost
      or stolen through the Internet, children being bullied or sexually
      abused through online contact, businesses being hacked and held for
      ransom, identity theft and interference with critical infrastructure
      such as power grids, water systems or telephone services).
    - 70% of victims of cyber crime have not reported the crime as they were
      unsure who to report to or did not think any justice would occur.
    - 86% of respondents indicate that cyber crime has become a concern.
    - 95% of respondents believe they are being targeted for cyber crime
      (most respondents believe the greatest threats are identity theft,
      financial fraud and computer viruses).
    - 89% of respondents believe that preventing cyber crime should be a
      priority of government and law enforcement agencies.

    Additional supporting statistics:

    - According to a 2007 Symantec study, Canada ranks ninth as a country
      targeted for malicious cyber activities while the U.S. holds the
      #1 position. This same study discovered more than 700,000
      new malicious code threats for 2007, up from only 125,000 in 2006.
    - A 2006 estimate by the Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus
      indicates that identity theft is costing consumers, banks, credit card
      firms and stores $2 billion annually.
    - According to the U.S. Dept. of Justice statistics, identity theft is
      passing drug trafficking as the number one crime in the nation -
      approx. one new victim every two seconds.
    - Internet child pornography has become a $2.6 billion industry (NCMEC).
      The latest RCMP estimates indicate there are 60,000 identified IP
      addresses in Canada accessing child pornography.
    - In a recent IBM survey of healthcare, financial, retail and
      manufacturing industries, nearly 60% of businesses believe that cyber
      crime is more costly to them than physical crime.
    - In 2006, FBI statistics showed a loss of $70 million in bank robberies
      compared to $220 million lost in due to Rock phishing. Currently the
      most popular phishing kit, Rock phish allows non-technical individuals
      to create and carry out phishing attacks.
    - 2007 research from the U.S. Cyber Consequences Unit shows that the
      destruction from a single wave of cyber attacks on critical
      infrastructures could exceed $700 billion - the equivalent of 50 major
      hurricanes hitting U.S. soil at once.


                                   Report
                               Recommendations
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    In January 2008, the Canadian Association of Police Boards (CAPB)
commissioned a survey to determine the magnitude and impact of cyber crime on
Canadians. CAPB considers the results of this survey to represent a "call to
action." The survey suggested a number of recommendations to address cyber
crime activities - now considered the most significant challenge facing law
enforcement in Canada. A top priority recommendation is the establishment of a
dedicated centre where law enforcement, government, the private sector and
academia can co-ordinate the fight against cyber crime.
    "It is incumbent upon police boards/commissions to work with government to
find the resources necessary to protect our communities from cyber crime,"
says Calgary Police Commission chair Denis Painchaud.
    "Having said that, police services cannot work in isolation...we need laws
that support the prevention and detection of crime perpetuated over the
Internet and we need a national, coordi- nated effort between government, law
enforcement, the private sector and academia to get on top of the fastest
growing crime in the world," he adds.

    Other key recommendations of the CAPB Cyber Crime in Canada survey:

    - The implementation of the legislation as proposed in August 2002 with
      respect to the lawful access provisions of the criminal code.
    - Changes to existing legislation that would enable information sharing
      with law enforcement with lower judicial standards than those now
      applied to search and seizure warrants.
    - Changes to the Canada Evidence Act that would improve on the existing
      Mutual Legal Assistance treaty's ability to enable the admission of
      documents held in the normal course of business in another country.
    - Increased resourcing and funding for law enforcement and crown
      prosecutors related to cyber crime investigations and prosecutions.
    - The need for a central mechanism for the mandatory reporting of
      designated cyber security incidents to enable quantification of the
      potential damage to the Canadian economy.
    - New legislation making spamming an offence and the adoption of
      recommendations made by the Spam Task Force in 2005.
    - Mandatory reporting requirements for child pornography.
    - Increased cyber crime awareness and prevention programs to be
      introduced into school curriculums as part of educating children on the
      issues of cyber crime.

For further information: Media Contacts: Jennifer Lanzon, Canadian
Association of Police Boards, [phone], [e-mail]; Sgt. Kathy
Macdonald, Calgary Police Service, [phone], Cell: [phone],
[e-mail]