• On MovieTome: Leaked images from TRANSFORMERS 2?
December 1, 2008 7:02 AM PST

Europe to get cybercrime alert system

Posted by Nick Heath
  • Font size
  • Print

Europe is getting a cybercrime alert system as part of a European Union drive to fight online criminals.

According to plans, European law enforcement body Europol will receive 300,000 euros ($386,430) to build an alert system that pools reports of cybercrime, such as online identification and financial theft, from across the 27 member states.

Police will launch more remote searches of suspects' hard drives over the Internet, as well as cyberpatrols to spot and track illegal activity, under the strategy adopted by the European Union's council of ministers Thursday.

The strategy, a blueprint for fighting cybercrime in the EU over the next five years, also introduces measures to encourage businesses and police to share information on investigations and cybercrime trends.

"The strategy encourages the much-needed operational cooperation and information exchange between the member states," said Jacques Barrot, vice president of the European Commission. "If the strategy is to make the fight against cybercrime more efficient, all stakeholders have to be fully committed to its implementation. We are ready to support them, also financially, in their efforts."

Plans for the EU alert system follow the recent establishments of the Police Central E-crime Unit and National Fraud Strategic Authority, which aim to fight cybercrime in the United Kingdom.

Nick Heath of Silicon.com reported from London.

Recent posts from Security
Study: Data breaches rose in 2008
Fake celeb LinkedIn profiles lead to malware
Hackers hit MacRumors keynote coverage
Alarm systems at risk: UL establishes a higher security requirement for magnetic switches
Twitter phishing scam may be spreading
'Curse of silence' smartphone flaw disclosed
Defense contractors eye cybersecurity bonanza
Web browser flaw could put e-commerce security at risk
advertisement

In the news now

Apple: DRM-free tunes, unibody MacBook Pro

roundup At Macworld, Phil Schiller touts 10 million songs sans DRM, plus 69-cent songs, a unibody 17-inch notebook, iLife updates, and more.


Countdown to CES

special coverage The tech community descends on Las Vegas as the Consumer Electronics Show gets ready to kick off in all its gadgety glory.


About Security

Online security is threatened by more than hacking and phishing attempts. Check here for the latest updates on software vulnerabilities, data leaks, and rapidly spreading viruses--and learn how to protect your systems.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Security topics

advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right