The Minister, who gave the opening remarks at the regional data security summit held at the Hilton Hotel in New Kingston yesterday, explained that the increased incidents of cyber crime and the increasing use of e-commerce locally should impress on more Jamaicans the need to beef up the security of enterprise data on the Internet.

"Recent media reports in Jamaica have highlighted some of the problems that may exist at the level of specific enterprises as far as controlling their own resources are concerned," Dr Phillips stated.

"The breakdown of adequate computer-based security systems in relation to banks and automatic teller transactions, for example, highlight the loss and the scale of the loss that can occur in a very short period of time if the security systems are inadequate or if they fail," he added.

The summit attracted a field of highly qualified professionals and industry players, some of whom were only allowed standing space as they filled the meeting room in concern over the safety of their data streaming on the Internet.

Citing that Jamaica had responded to the increase in cyber crimes, Dr. Phillips explained that a number of Government agencies were now doing business on the Internet and interest in cyber security is now one of national security.

"The recently formed OCID (Organised Crime Investigation Division) in the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) has a section that is exclusively dedicated to the issue of cyber crimes and we recognise that there is a lot that we need to learn in dealing with these situations," said the Minister.

BOOST CRIME-FIGHTING

Dr. Phillips also mentioned that in light of the concerns, the Government planned on introducing a new automatic fingerprinting identification system which should also help to boost crime-fighting strategies.

"We are in the market for new automatic fingerprinting identification systems, which will enable the flow of data and images to move between different points in the country, to allow for more rapid investigation and the interruption of criminal activity, and we are very far down the track in that regard," the Minister said.

Spearheading the summit was Pam Thompson, chairman of the Central Information Technology Office (CITO) along with sponsors Fujitsu, IBM, Jamaica Computer Society and Microsoft. CITO is charged with ensuring that Jamaicans are protected as they undertake business and transactions through the use of the Internet.

Ms Thompson, in her message said: "Our concern with security transcends the provision of a legal framework by way of an electronic transaction legislation and examines the security that is available at the software level."

Just last month Neville Davidson, a Jamaica Defence Force soldier, was charged in connection with fraud involving the withdrawal of millions of dollars from RBTT through its ATMs (Automated Teller Machines), in December last year.

He appeared in court along with 20 others who are also charged in connection with the scam. The accused, including Davidson, pleaded guilty to the charges. The police, on January 7, said they were hunting for 800 bank customers islandwide for questioning in the $23 million scam. Fraud Squad detectives revealed that the theft occurred between December 25 and 26 last year and that persons used their RBTT debit cards to withdraw monies that were not in their personal accounts. The thefts occurred at various ATM locations across the island.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040318/lead/lead5.html