Hacked Attacked and Abused: Digital Crime Exposed [Paperback]

An investigation into one of the largest risks to any business: criminal attacks on their technology. Businesses are totally dependent on technology, yet the users of such are ignorant of the risks inherent in it. Hacked Attacked and Abused gives case studies and preventative advice for all levels of management.

We live in a world that has changed beyond recognition in the last ten years: it is almost possible to live your entire life online or through technology. But just like in real life, with this hi-tech existence come risks and a shadowy side. The tremendous advances and opportunities that technology has delivered have also opened up a Pandora's Box of possibilities for darker deeds. Terrorists, organized criminals, fraudsters and money launderers have all jumped at the opportunities offered them. In the meantime, hackers, crackers and virus creators have tried and succeeded in subverting the online environment. Pornography, paedophilia, hate sites, grudge sites, terrorist information - it's all there in glorious detail on the Internet. "Hacked, Attacked and Abused" is an in-depth expose of this Internet underbelly. Expert author Peter Lilley gives a compelling account of the risks inherent in our reliance on technology. He provides an overview and evaluation of crime, fraud and risk in the digital age by exploring how we got where we are now, where we are going and what risks we face in the future. Major themes covered include: the development of technology and the way it has impacted on our personal and business lives; forms of attack and the use of technology to facilitate illegal activities; the Internet and the way it lends itself to abuse so readily; information warfare - the use of technology to attack other nations - and its relevance as a business tool; the loss of privacy - what sort of information is stored about individuals, how it's used and when it becomes unethical; and the practical steps users can take to manage and minimize the risks of electronic crime and fraud. The book is not an alarmist vision of the digital age but an acknowledgment of the grave risks and dangers that are ever present in this environment. Peter Lilley analyses them all and uses examples to illustrate each threat. Crucially, he also provides practical preventive strategies for dealing with the risks, which every business should adopt. Lilley provides an eye-opening account of the various risks posed by the digital age, and what can be done to secure both individual and corporate information and privacy. Risks such as: organized digital crime; cyber laundering; fraudulent Internet Web sites; hacking and cracking; viruses; Web site defacement; unauthorized disclosure of confidential information; the fraudulent aspects of electronic cash; identity theft; hardcore and child pornography; information warfare; denial of service attacks where systems are inaccessible to legitimate users; invasion of digital privacy; and government digital monitoring such as Echelon

We now live, work and play in the digital age.

We live in a world that has changed beyond recognition in the last 10 years: it is almost possible to live your entire life online or through technology. But just like in real life, with this hi-tech existence come risks and a shadowy side. The tremendous advances and opportunities that technology has delivered have also opened up a Pandora’s Box of possibilities for darker deeds. Terrorists, organized criminals, fraudsters and money launderers have all jumped at the opportunities offered them. In the meantime hackers, crackers and virus creators have tried and succeeded in subverting the online environment. Pornography, paedophilia, hate sites, grudge sites, terrorist information – it’s all there in glorious detail on the Internet.

Hacked, Attacked and Abused is an in-depth exposé of this Internet underbelly. Expert author Peter Lilley gives us a compelling account of the risks inherent in our reliance on technology. He provides an overview and evaluation of crime, fraud and risk in the digital age by exploring how we got where we are now, where we are going and what risks we face in the future. Major themes covered include:

-the development of technology and the way it has impacted on our personal and business lives
-forms of attack and the use of technology to facilitate illegal activities
-the Internet and the way it lends itself to abuse so readily
-information warfare -- the use of technology to attack other nations -- and its relevance as a business tool
-the loss of privacy: what sort of information is stored about individuals, how it’s used and when it becomes unethical
-the practical steps users can take to manage and minimize the risks of electronic crime and fraud

Hacked, Attacked and Abused is not an alarmist vision of the digital age but an acknowledgment of the grave risks and dangers that are ever present in this environment. Peter Lilley analyses them all and uses examples to illustrate each threat. Crucially, he also provides practical preventive strategies for dealing with the risks, which every business should adopt.

Hacked, Attacked and Abused is as relevant to business as it is to the individual – we are all customers in the brave new world of the Internet.

‘First rule of computer security: don’t buy a computer. Second rule: if you buy one, don’t turn it on.’
Dark Avenger, legendary virus writer

Did you know that:

-in 2001 a gambling Web site was hacked so that in a few hours 140 gamblers won a total of $1.9 million?
-the Love Bug virus cost $8.7 billion globally in lost productivity and clean-up costs?
-numerous corporations have suffered severe reputational and financial consequences due to false information about them being e-mailed to thousands of recipients?
-major Web sites are being rendered inaccessible by denial of service attacks?
-in 1986 there was only one recorded computer virus; now there are over 50,000 and that number is still growing?
-a Texas professor began to receive death threats because someone had ‘stolen’ his e-mail address and sent 20,000 racist messages from it?
-the range of corporate networks that have been hacked into is innumerable – including Microsoft, NASA, the Korean Atomic Research Institute and numerous crucial national networks?
-thousands of innocent individuals have had their identities ‘stolen’ online and used fraudulently?

Hacked, Attacked and Abused provides an eye-opening account of the various risks posed by the digital age, and what can be done to secure both individual and corporate information and privacy. Risks such as:

-organized digital crime
-cyber laundering
-fraudulent Internet Web sites
-hacking and cracking
-viruses
-Web site defacement
-unauthorized disclosure of confidential information
-the fraudulent aspects of electronic cash
-identity theft
-hardcore and child pornography
-information warfare
-denial of service attacks where systems are inaccessible to legitimate users
-invasion of digital privacy
-government digital monitoring such as Echelon

Peter Lilley has been involved in the prevention, detection and investigation of global business crime and money laundering for 20 years in a variety of senior roles. He has led a large number of successful projects all over the world and now advises a wide range of organizations on how to fight these growing problems through his firm, Proximal Consulting. He is a fellow of the UK Chartered Institute of Banking, a Certified Fraud Examiner and a member of the Institute of Professional Investigators. He is also the author of Dirty Dealing and Hacked, Attacked and Abused (both published by Kogan Page) and numerous other published articles. Much sought after on the international speaking circuit, he also makes frequent expert contributions to print and broadcast news media such as the BBC and CNN. Proximal Consulting has offices in both the UK and Switzerland and its Web site ( www.proximalconsulting.com) gives details of its activities and services and discusses current issues on business crime. Peter can be contacted at pl@proximalconsulting.com

Preface: wired for crime

1. Terminal velocity

Timelines of technology

A window on operating systems

A short timeline of viruses

A history of hacks

Doubtful definitions - from computer crime to the Digital Age

Scales and justice

Who are they and what are they to you?

2. System error

Hacked and cracked

Self-made disasters (and a few own goals)

The threat inside

Dispensing cash

Digital laundering

My electronic wallet

Virus attacks

3. Wide open to abuse.com

The medium is the message

The wheels of fortune

Images of innocence

Identity theft

4. Information warfare

Origins and definitions

Old wine in new bottles

A war fought by terrorists

A useful business tool?

5. Privacy lost

We've got a line on you

Cookies, Carnivore and Echelon

Possible Echelon keywords

Spam, glorious spam

Abuse by e-mail

6. Gimme shelter

How to create a secure organization - checklists of issues

Educating your users - and that includes you

Appendix 1: Glossary of terms

Appendix 2: Web directory

Appendix 3: International laws and treaties

Appendix 4: Domain extensions

Further reading and references