NESTA Crime Online - University of Brighton Repository

spectators and the media. 242 Even the transport system will be automated through
Oyster cards. More than ever before, the London Games are expected to fuel an
explosion in internet traffic of online transaction and activities. And this represents the
most complex logistical challenge for the UK.
The great opportunities brought by digital technologies are accompanied by great risks,
through greater vulnerability. Risk management and preventive measures will require
considerable resources and technical capability for which the UK is not fully prepared.
There is little evidence that the capacity of the UK to host the Olympics matches the
threat in cybercrime.
Capacity to deal with these problems needs to be built up now, with an increasing
involvement of the police in tackling credit card fraud and ID theft.
3.1.3 The individual/institutional level
Many of the opportunities presented to cybercriminals are the result of human error and
a poor appreciation of the need to protect personal data. Too many people use a single
password or the same ‘memorable information’. Even those who are aware of good
practice in protecting personal data often ignore appropriate procedures in favour of
ease of use. Most individual computer users are unlikely to know the latest advice until
their data or money is stolen. As new social engineering techniques are devised and
more sophisticated forms of malware developed people do need to become more aware
of how they can protect themselves.
At the institutional level the risks can be multiplied many times given the general lack of
security training and screening in most companies and organisations or the potential for
disgruntled or dishonest employees either to ignore or subvert company policy.
Organisations and initiatives such as the National Computer Centre, the European
Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), Get Safe On-line have excellent
programmes and advice on how to increase our personal on-line security. Such laudable
initiatives are often joint efforts by government and the private sector. But their
242 John O’Brien (2008): “London 2012: Will IT be hit by credit crunch?”, Silicom.com, 9 th October 2008.
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