Kirk Arthur, with the Secret Service's Seattle Electronic Crimes Task Force, outlined the kinds of fraud retailers face and the source of problems. Arthur said hackers look for credit card data, addresses and email accounts in an effort to turn that information into hard cash.
He pointed out that 'gangbangers' are now in the business of collecting credit card information, then selling the data on any number of Web sites. He said they employ code hackers, people who have become very familiar with all kinds of software available on the open market and who then discover vulnerabilities. He said code hackers then sell the information.
Arthur said the lion's share of small to medium businesses are the focus of cyber criminals. He said retailers make up 45 percent of the victim, food and beverage businesses about 24 percent and the hospitality industry about nine percent.
He said business vulnerabilities include: using a business computer for such things as surfing the Web and creating Facebook postings. He urged business owners to dedicate their business computers to business only. He urged them to keep all software up to date and to make sure they have a firewall.
Most small businesses here have only a handful of employees and Arthur suggested they consult their IT person, or hire one if necessary.