McAfee launches major cybercrime initiative

McAfee has announced the McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime, a wide-ranging initiative aimed at closing critical gaps in the fight against cybercrime. The initiative is anchored by a multi-point plan that includes calls for action from law enforcement, academia, service providers, government, the security industry and society at large to deliver more effective investigations and prosecutions of cybercrime.

"Cybercrime is a growing problem that negatively impacts everybody," says Jayson O'Reilly, regional director: Africa (acting) of McAfee. "While a lot has been done to combat cybercrime over the past decade, criminals still have the upper hand. The chances of getting caught for knocking off a convenience store are several times larger than robbing an online bank. This must change."

To ensure that McAfee's initiative is sustainable and fully benefits from the work that has preceded it, McAfee is creating the McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime Advisory Council. This council will let McAfee harness the insights and energy of leaders who have already made a difference in this critical area. This global group of independent experts will be chaired by former White House cybersecurity advisor Howard A. Schmidt. Professors Ian Brown of Oxford University and Lillian Edwards of Sheffield University have agreed to join the council as well, as has Parry Aftab, founder and manager of WiredSafety, the world's largest and oldest cybersafety help group.

"While cybercrime is becoming more organised, there have been solid, positive strides made," continues O'Reilly. "McAfee is bringing together people who are knowledgeable about cybercrime and can help make a difference in this global, sophisticated problem."

In addition to forming the Advisory Council, McAfee is also announcing a new McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime Grants Programme and a Cybercrime Response Unit.

At the cornerstone of McAfee's initiative to fight cybercrime, the company unveiled a multi-point plan. Key elements of the plan include the following:

* Education and awareness - McAfee will work to ensure that officials around the world have the capacity to properly fight cybercrime, while helping users build "street smarts" so that they don't become easy victims.
* Legal frameworks and law enforcement - McAfee will work to facilitate international collaboration and mutual assistance on cybercrime among governments, industry and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
* Innovation - McAfee will work with the technology industry to provide technology solutions that stay one step ahead of the threats.

To read the entire McAfee plan, visit: http://www.mcafee.com/fightcybercrime.

Today many cybercrime victims have no idea where they should go to seek help. McAfee's Cybercrime Response Unit will help consumers and businesses who believe they have become victims of cybercrime. The unit will provide help assessing the situation, including advice on what evidence to gather for law enforcement to bring a case, and refer victims to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, credit agencies, support agencies and other organisations.

McAfee has also created a new global grant programme to support innovative thinking and concrete, measurable accomplishments in key areas of McAfee's Multipoint Strategy to Fight Cybercrime. Programmes that qualify for grants include those that demonstrate successes in fighting cybercrime or educating on cybercrime. Additional information is available on http://www.mcafee.com/fightcybercrime.

The McAfee Cybercrime Fighter Award is given to an individual who has exemplified outstanding leadership in the global effort to combat cybercrime. At its FOCUS 08 user conference, McAfee is honouring these individuals:

* Alexander Seger - Head of the Economic Crime division for the Council of Europe - responsible for the Council's global project on cybercrime, spanning countries all over the world.
* Laura Codruta K"ovesi - Romanian Prosecutor General - Earlier this year, K"ovesi led the effort to prosecute individuals with ties to international organised crime who were involved in computer and credit card fraud schemes.