Cybercrime becomes DHS priority

Cybercrime, emerging as the leading public and private sector IT threat, now ranks above cyberterrorism on the DHS radar screen, said Amit Yoran, Homeland Security Department cybersecurity chief.

Many analysts believe that growing wholesale markets for stolen data, such as credit card information, is driving organized criminal activity online, and that outbreaks of malicious code in the last year may be related to criminal activity.

Cyberterrorists are highly motivated, said John Watters, chief executive officer of iDefense Inc., but they have not yet developed the level of organization or skills needed to carry out serious attacks.

Watters warned that nations and terrorists could exploit IT vulnerabilities identified by criminal organizations.