Cybercrime fight 'needs govt funds'

McAfee, one of the largest vendors of security software, has called on governments around the world to help fund the fight against online crime.

The company's Virtual Criminology Report claims that world leaders are currently too focused on the state of the global economy and should pay more attention to cybercrime.

Dave DeWalt, chief executive of McAfee said: "While governments and law enforcement bodies' attentions are diverted by the current economic crisis, the door is left open for cybercrimimals to continue to target bank balances worldwide."

McAfee said that one of the knock-on effects of the credit crunch was the rise of the 'get rich quick' scam, in which people desperate to find employment are persuaded to take jobs as 'shipping managers' only to be used as mules for criminal gangs.

A lack of police with the necessary skills to tackle cybercrime was one of the most pressing issues to address, said DeWalt.

"Governments need to commit to funding the resources needed to combat cybercrime; bureaucratic bodies need to be rationalised and harmonised and police forces need to be coordinated across boundaries," he said.

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