Security officials discuss efforts to combat computer crime

Research and development into cybersecurity is essential to combat computer crime, a security researcher said on Monday. “Computer crime is rising in scope,” said Andrew Macpherson, the technical program coordinator for Dartmouth University’s Institute for Security Technology Studies. “I don’t think we have any way of quantifying computer crime [at this point].” To fend off cyberattacks, Macpherson and his technical analysis group at the institute have three projects in the works: intelligence reports on cybersecurity and the cyber capabilities of threat groups; an investigative contact list for cyberattacks; and a national R&D agenda for investigative tools and technologies related to such attacks. “We’re seeing a major shift in business’ ability or desire to report computer crimes,” Macpherson said. “There’s not really any law on the books that tells companies to turn over [information about cyberattacks], except in California,” said Trent Teyema, a supervisory special agent with the FBI’s squad for criminal computer intrusions. “I like to call it the pain threshold,” said Anthony Reyes of the New York City Police Department’s unit on computer investigations and technology. “It depends on how much pain the companies can absorb” before they notify customers. Full Story