The theft of information such as user names and passwords, credit card and bank account information has extended its scope to mobile communications.
A variant of ‘phishing’ attacks which targets users of personal computers, ‘smishing’ uses social engineering techniques to obtain sensitive information for criminal purposes, using mainly text messages sent to cell phones.
This decade will see governments, organized crime and individuals declare cyber war on companies' information.
Computer fraud is now a full time business for many, whether it be for profit or in an attempt to achieve a competitive advantage. Governments regularly acuse each other of cyber foul play and institutions are having to take ever more drastic measures to protect themselves.