Indeed today's cybercriminal gangs are so well organized that often they buy "off the shelf" rootkits and software which they use to carry out their activities. Often this software comes with manuals, 24/7 tech support and even in extreme cases advertising!

Cybercrime has become a well-established feature of today's world. For the most part, this takes the form of random, speculative attacks designed to steal personal information from anyone unlucky enough to fall victim to the attack.

Today the bad guys are increasingly well-financed, professional and work hard to develop new ways to get through defences. At the same time, we increasingly live our lives online which means the information and data we hold on our PCs and networks are valuable assets that can be traded and used.

Whilst yet to make the big headlines, the full picture of online crime represents a fundamental challenge to all businesses, governments and our daily lives. In the all-encompassing digital age, information security as a profession and as a way of life is vital to ensuring both our economic prosperity and our sense of safety, privacy and freedom.

The EU Strategy responds to debates over human rights and the internet, especially regarding censorship, by reaffirming fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law in cyberspace. What I find interesting is that, according to the Strategy, there is no human 'right' to access the internet.

When I was young, having fun involved kicking a ball around the park, building a den at the bottom of the garden or playing hide and seek with friends. Today it's an entirely different landscape thanks to the endless opportunities for fun offered by online gaming, social networks and apps.

If you have stumbled across the phrase 'Red October' in the past few weeks, you may think it sounds like an operation from a John le Carré novel. In ...

There has been a lot of debate recently about how much information we should give away online. Just a couple of weeks ago, Cabinet Office Internet security chief, Andy Smith, publicly suggested that we should use fake details online in order to protect our security. But is this really the right approach to staying safe online?

One of the great weaknesses of Western preparation for the strategic future of cyberspace is that we lack a coherent narrative for ordering and unders...

Emma Watson is officially the most dangerous woman on the internet. The news came via McAfee's annual survey of the celebs most likely to land user...

What's the true cost of cybercrime? At least £1.8bn a year - in the UK alone - according to a new report. More than 12m people in the UK alone wer...

What's the true cost of cybercrime? At least £1.8bn a year - in the UK alone - according to a new report. More than 12m people in the UK alone wer...

Forget what you think you know about the cybercriminals who prowl corporate networks looking for customer data and intellectual property to steal. These days, they're less likely to be introverted teenage malcontents skulking in darkened bedrooms and more likely to be hardened criminals, operating as part of an organised gang.

A phone call between the FBI and Scotland Yard has been intercepted by hacking group Anonymous, revealing a conversation about cybercrime. The cal...