Cybercrime threats and DHS responsibilities in protecting consumers

Homeland Security & Emergency Management Overview

OVERVIEW OF HOMELAND SECURTY AND EMERGENCY Management

Code Wars: America's Cyber Threat

• Post a response to the following statement: "Cybercrime: Everyone is a target."

• In your post address describe and explain the roles and responsibilities of DHS and other government and private sector partnerships.

• In addition, identify what cyber threats you believe present the biggest security risk to our country? Why? Respond to at least two other learners.

The recent scandal over the theft of identities at Target over the Thanksgiving 'black Friday' weekend highlights the pervasiveness of identity theft in our society. "According to Target, hackers stole card numbers, security codes and other data from as many as 40 million credit and debit cards swiped at Target stores from the end of November through mid-December. This is the second-largest data breach in United States retail history" (Target admits encrypted PIN numbers stolen during credit card, debit card security breach, 2013). The idea that everyone is a potential target is underlined by the comprehensive nature of the attack -- all persons who used credit and debit cards during this period of time could potentially be affected. Not only were numbers stolen but other identifying pieces of information that could be attractive to identity thieves.

DHS is mindful of the role the Internet can play in fostering crime. "From the C3 Cyber Crime Section, ICE identifies sources for fraudulent identity and immigration documents on the Internet. C3's Child Exploitation Section investigates large-scale producers and distributors of child pornography, as well as individuals who travel abroad for the purpose of engaging in sex with minors" (Combat cybercrime, 2014, DHS). The government has a responsibility to protect individual citizens through such constant monitoring; private entities such as Target likewise have a responsibility to protect vital consumer information. Working together to learn how enhance consumer safety in the future is likely to become more and more of an issue for private businesses.