5 months ago
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Cyber criminals are increasingly targeting small and medium-sized businesses that don't have the resources to keep updating their computer security.
Federal authorities say many of the attacks are being waged by organized cyber groups based abroad. The cyber thieves are able to steal not only credit card numbers, but personal information, including Social Security numbers.
An official with the U.S. Secret Service says larger companies have taken on more sophisticated computer network protections, so criminals are going after smaller businesses that don't have high-level security.
A Department of Homeland Security official says there are simple steps that businesses can take to protect themselves. He says a recent study suggests as many as 87 percent of data breaches could be avoided by installing simple to intermediate prevention measures.
The officials are testifying at a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
