Despite over $7 billion a year being spent on anti-virus and other security software, the dangers of becoming a victim of cybercrime are increasing. What was once the hobby of amateur hackers has become the business of organized groups around the world.

Cyberthieves want your identity and financial information, and they are not just going through shady websites to get it. It is now a popular marketing tactic to claim that brand name websites with well-known reputations are completely safe. However, it is exactly because of this perception that these sites are being targeted to become the unwitting hosts for invisible malware that can infect a computer just by the user checking the latest news or sports scores.

Many websites of businesses, agencies, and medical and educational institutions that may not have been originally designed with tight security in mind are also being targeted for their databases which contain a wealth of personal information. For example, according to the the FBI, an average of over one million computers per year are currently being hijacked by botnets.

While the number of widespread, damage-causing incidents has dropped in recent years, the number of targeted, profit-driven attacks is on the rise. Fortunately, there are ways your company can protect itself and its employees. This paper will examine the shift in the nature of cybercrimes, how the thieves target their victims, and what can be done to prevent them.