Study Warns of Risks Posed by Laid-Off Employees

SANTA CLARA, Calif.
Published: February 1, 2009

McAfee has released “Unsecured Economies: Protecting Vital Information,” a study highlighting the vulnerability of the world’s intellectual property and sensitive information. According to the report, a distributed network of unsecured economies has emerged with the globalization of many organizations, leaving information even more at risk to theft and misuse. Additionally, the recent increase in the number of laid-off employees posses a significant risk.

This report investigates cybercrime risks in various global economies, and the need for organizations to take a more holistic approach to vulnerability management and risk mitigation in the evolving global business climate.

Companies surveyed estimated they lost an average of $4.6 million worth of intellectual property in 2008. Forty-two percent said laid-off employees were the single biggest threat caused by the economic downturn to the security of their intellectual property and other sensitive data. Additionally, insider threats continue to be a concern.

The report concludes that intellectual property and sensitive data has become a premium currency for financially desperate or laid-off employees. Cybercriminals also see this vital information as a high-value commodity and are devising increasingly devious ways to infiltrate companies through its employees. Additionally, China, Russia and Pakistan are emerging as clear sources of threats to corporate data.

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Despite the fact that the threat to intellectual property is increasing, many respondents indicated they will be decreasing their information security spending during the economic downturn.

To download the report, click here.

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