The High-Tech Crime Unit's new charter takes us a big step forward
in the fight against cybercrime. In the charter, the
cybercrime-busting unit promises total confidentiality to
businesses coming forward to report computer crimes perpetrated
against them.
No business is likely to own up to hacks or other crimes against it
if it fears finding itself on the front page of Computer Weekly.
The publication of the charter means this is no longer a
possibility. The charter also guarantees that equipment will not be
confiscated for forensic testing, meaning that reporting a crime
need not impact upon businesses' working practices.
Now that the High-Tech Crime Unit has made these concessions,
businesses must oblige by being more forthcoming about the systems
compromises they suffer. Only by obtaining reliable statistics on
the extent of cybercrime will the police be able to secure adequate
funding for their fight against the cyber criminals.