MCAFEE, INC. launches major CYBERCRIME initiative

McAfee Inc. today announced the McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime, a wide ranging initiative aimed at closing critical gaps in the fight against cybercrime. The initiative is anchored by a multi-point plan that includes calls for action from law enforcement, academia, service providers, government, the security industry and society at large to deliver more effective investigations and prosecutions of cybercrime.

“Cybercrime is a growing problem that negatively impacts everybody,” said Dave DeWalt, McAfee president and chief executive officer. “While a lot has been done to combat cybercrime over the past decade, criminals still have the upper hand. The chances of getting caught for knocking off a convenience store are several times larger than robbing an online bank. This must change.”

To ensure that McAfee’s initiative is sustainable and fully benefits from the work that has preceded it, McAfee is creating the McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime Advisory Council. This council will let McAfee harness the insights and energy of leaders who have already made a difference in this critical area. This global group of independent experts will be chaired by former White House Cybersecurity Adviser Howard A. Schmidt. Professors Ian Brown of OxfordUniversity and Lillian Edwards of Sheffield University have agreed to join the council as well, as has Parry Aftab, founder and manager of WiredSafety, the world’s largest and oldest cybersafety help group.

“While cybercrime is becoming more organized, there have been solid, positive strides made,” said Schmidt.  “McAfee is bringing together people who are knowledgeable about cybercrime and can help make a difference in this global, sophisticated problem.”

In addition to forming the Advisory Council, McAfee is also announcing a new McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime Grants program and Cybercrime Response Unit.

McAfee Multipoint Plan to Fight Cybercrime
At the cornerstone of McAfee’s initiative to fight cybercrime, the company unveiled a multipoint plan.  Key elements of the plan include the following:

• Education and Awareness – McAfee will work to ensure that officials around the world have the capacity to properly fight cybercrime, while helping users build “street smarts” so that they don’t become easy victims.
• Legal Frameworks and Law Enforcement - McAfee will work to facilitate international collaboration, and mutual assistance on cybercrime among governments, industry and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Innovation - McAfee will work with the technology industry to provide technology solutions that stay one step ahead of the threats.

McAfee Cybercrime Response Unit
Today many cybercrime victims have no idea where they should go to seek help. McAfee’s Cybercrime Response Unit will help consumers and businesses who believe they have become victims of cybercrime.  The Unit will provide help assessing the situation, including advice on what evidence to gather for law enforcement to bring a case, and refer victims to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, credit agencies, support agencies, and other organizations.

McAfee Initiative to Fight Cybercrime Grants
McAfee has created a new global grant program to support innovative thinking and concrete, measurable accomplishments in key areas of McAfee’s Multipoint Strategy to Fight Cybercrime. Programs that qualify for grants include those that demonstrate successes in fighting cybercrime or educating on cybercrime. Additional information is available on https://www.mcafee.com/fightcybercrime.

McAfee Cybercrime Fighter Award Winners
The McAfee Cybercrime Fighter Award is given to an individual who has exemplified outstanding leadership in the global effort to combat cybercrime.  At its FOCUS 08 user conference, McAfee is honoring these individuals:

• Alexander Seger - Head of the Economic Crime division for the Council of Europe – responsible for the Council’s global project on cybercrime, spanning countries all over the world.
• Laura Codruta Kövesi - Romanian Prosecutor General - Earlier this year, Kövesi led the effort to prosecute individuals with ties to international organized crime who were involved computer and credit card fraud schemes.

Live Cybercrime Panel From FOCUS 08
Watch a live panel discussion on cybercrime at 09.45 AM PT on Tuesday Oct. 21 with FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Shawn Henry, former White House Cybersecurity Adviser Howard A. Schmidt and McAfee CEO Dave DeWalt. The panel discussion will be webcast live from McAfee’s FOCUS 08 user conference inLas Vegas.

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