New figures published today by the Office of National Statistics reveal the extent of cybercrime facing individuals and businesses.
According to the Crime in England and Wales: year ending Dec 2016 report, there were 11.5 million incidents of crime relating to computer misuse and fraud offences in 2016. This is the first time that the ONS has published a full year figure for these type of offences.
Incident rates indicate that four in every 100 adults were affected by these kinds of crimes, putting cyber offences on a par with that of criminal damage and vehicle theft. The increase in this area is of particular concern given growing fears for both individuals and businesses around personal data and cyber security.
The report also reveals there were as many as 1.8 million cases of bank card related fraud in 2016, representing a 22 per cent rise from the year before.
Commenting on the new government statistics, Steve Snaith, head of technology risk assurance at RSM says, ‘We know that cyber criminals are becoming ever more sophisticated, and these figures clearly demonstrate how prevalent attacks have become. With the growth of internet banking and our increased reliance on technology, they should also underline the importance of ensuring that cyber security is a high priority. Businesses must keep on top of cyber security developments and ensure that effective control systems are put in place to minimise the risks of a successful breach.’
Further reading on cybercrime
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