IT (in)Security Consultant

Malicious attacks on databases and incidents of online and other tech-related thefts continue to evolve in number and manner-- leaving both consumers and businesses scrambling to pay for the damage to their reputations and bottom lines. The Identity Theft Resource Center reports that in the first half of 2009, 18.4 percent of all breaches were from insider theft. That's up from 15 percent in 2008 and 6 percent in 2007. During the same period, the ITRC reports that hacking totaled 18 percent of all data breaches, compared with 11.7 percent in 2008. Combined, these malicious attacks are up more than 10 percent in 2009, with data breaches and insider theft accounting for 36 percent of the 250 reported breaches this year. Information security experts, including ITRC, say companies must implement effective data-protection policies and systems to safeguard their businesses and customers. Knowing what you are up against is a solid start in planning a defense against would-be thieves- from both inside and outside your company. What follows are some of the latest trends in information security breaches and technology-related theft examples that hold valuable lessons for information security professionals.

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