Frequently asked questions

What is the Norton Cybercrime Index?

The Norton Cybercrime Index is a free tool, available to everyone, which measures and warns people about cybercrime risks around the world, and how it can affect them. The Norton Cybercrime Index’s number changes daily to reflect real cybercrime risk and the relative threat that this poses to people. The Norton Cybercrime Index’s Daily Cybercrime News alert indicates the day’s top cybercrime threat, and tells people what they can do to avoid it.

Why has Norton created the Norton Cybercrime Index?

We created the Norton Cybercrime Index to show people that cybercrime is real, it can happen to anybody, and there is something you can do to protect yourself. In fact, 65 percent of adults worldwide have already been victims of cybercrime. As an industry leader in Internet security, it is our duty to raise awareness of the issue and provide advice and tools to keep people safe. Cybercrime is avoidable, and the Norton Cybercrime Index will provide advice on how to help Internet users safely navigate the Web.

How does the Norton Cybercrime Index function?

The Norton Cybercrime Index functions much like the Dow Jones crossed with an online traffic report – providing people with an unprecedented, holistic look at the current state of online threats. It calculates attacks both quantitatively and qualitatively, and provides an easy-to-understand and visually compelling representation of the cybercrime risk-level people face, helping them know on a daily basis if more diligence and safety measures are required when going online on any given day. Moreover, it provides on-going Daily Cybercrime News alerts and permanent tracking to show trends and changes over time.

Where can I experience the Norton Cybercrime Index?

The Norton Cybercrime Index can be experienced in four ways:

Where does the Norton Cybercrime Index data come from?

The data used to populate the Norton Cybercrime Index comes from three primary sources: Symantec’s Global Intelligence Network, ID Analytics and DataLossDB.

The majority of the Norton Cybercrime Index’s data comes from Symantec’s Global Intelligence Network, one of the industry’s most comprehensive sources of intelligence about online threats. The Symantec Global Intelligence Network:

  • Monitors 133 million servers around the world, providing malware detection
  • Has 240,000 sensors in more than 200 countries, providing details of cyber attack activity
  • Incorporates 80,000 technologies, providing vulnerability detection
  • Monitors eight billion email messages a day, providing spam and phishing exposure

In addition, Norton has partnered with ID Analytics and DataLossDB, allowing for an even greater, holistic look at cybercrime.

ID Analytics provides US data regarding personal identity fraud. Some of the largest U.S. companies and critical government agencies rely on ID Analytics to make risk-based decisions that protect people. www.idanalytics.com

DatalLossDB is a research project from the Open Security Foundation and their volunteers, aimed at documenting known and reported data loss incidents worldwide. http://datalossdb.org/

How is the Norton Cybercrime Index number calculated?

The Norton Cybercrime Index number is calculated using a statistical model and algorithm, which assigns values to the number of online threats observed each day. Threats include malware, fraud, identity theft, spam, phishing and social engineering trickery. Once threats are quantified and processed through an algorithm, the Norton Cybercrime Index number is generated. The algorithm has been endorsed by the University of Texas San Antonio as a valid measurement reflecting the risk of cybercrime.

What types of cybercrime does the Norton Cybercrime Index measure?

The Norton Cybercrime Index measures the levels of various threats including malicious software (or “malware”), fraud, identity theft, spam, phishing, and social engineering trickery.

Does the Norton Cybercrime Index represent cybercrime worldwide?

Yes. The Norton Cybercrime Index represents cybercrime happening around the world. Data within the Norton Cybercrime Index is worldwide except for one source, ID Analytics (identity theft) which is exclusively collected from North America.

Is there a third party that supports the validity of the Norton Cybercrime Index?

Yes. The Institute for Cyber Security at The University of Texas has endorsed the Norton Cybercrime Index algorithm as a valid measurement tool reflecting the risk of cybercrime.

Do I need to buy Norton products to view the Norton Cybercrime Index?

No, everyone can view the Norton Cybercrime Index for free, regardless of whether or not you are a Norton customer. The mission of the Norton Cybercrime Index is to educate people about the problem of cybercrime and empower them to keep safe online by providing the right tools to solve the problem. Norton offers both educational information about safe online behavior and security software solutions. We hope people will make the Norton Cybercrime Index one of their daily rituals

How frequently does the Norton Cybercrime Index provide updates?

The Norton Cybercrime Index updates once a day in the morning (Pacific Time). In case of a large-scale cybercrime attack, the Norton Cybercrime Index will be updated to reflect what’s happening, even if it is outside of the normal update schedule.

Which languages will the Norton Cybercrime Index be available in?

At this time, the Norton Cybercrime Index is available only in English.

What should people do if they fall victim to cybercrime?

f people fall victim to cybercrime, the first thing they need to do is report the crime to law enforcement, credit agencies, financial institutions, and any of their friends who might be exposed to the risk.

They should also immediately secure their data and accounts by changing all their passwords to new, unique and complex ones and regularly review their bank accounts, credit reports and credit card activity for any unexpected charges or activity.

How can I stay safe from cybercrime?

The first step to online safety is a comprehensive Internet security solution, such as Norton 360 or Norton Internet Security. This will keep you safe from cybercrime by protecting your computer and your private information. In addition, safe online behavior is another key factor to staying safe. Receive a free scan of your computer at the Norton ‘Protect Yourself’ webpage. www.norton.com/protectyourself

Questions or comments can be provided on Norton Forums

http://community.norton.com/t5/Other-Norton-Products/bd-p/otherf

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Norton is here to help inform people about how to protect themselves online and minimize the financial and emotional impact of cybercrime.