Standing tall against cybercriminals. University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene offers risk assessments, training and workshops to local businesses and nonprofits.

Cyber crimes happen here everyday and the cases range from simple to sophisticated.

Earlier this year, alleged thieves in Florida victimized more than 100 people in Post Falls at a gas station with an electronic skimming device. They collected credit card data from unsuspecting customers every time they paid at the pump. This data was later used to make counterfeit credit cards, allowing the criminals to steal money and merchandise with impunity.

Another example: A North Idaho couple lost about $1,000 responding to a phony Craigslist advertisement for a rental home. Too late, they realized there was no house for rent. They had handed over their credit card information to an online thief.

Then there was the local business shipping a large order of its product to a nonexistent customer who paid through a series of emails using a stolen credit card. The business owner had to eat the loss — which was in the thousands of dollars.

“There are lot of things you never hear about,” said Post Falls Police Department Detective Neil Uhrig. “The increase in cybercrime around Coeur d’Alene is part of a nationwide trend. These scams are not always on a big scale, but they’re often effective.”

Uhrig said international and national criminals target North Idaho businesses and nonprofits via the internet, primarily because people here are quick to trust others, while residents of larger cities are more likely to be on guard.

“When you have trusting people, it’s easy to become victimized,” said Uhrig. “There is a social engineering component at work here. There is a live person reaching out to commit these crimes. It may be a phone call or an email, but somebody is behind it.”

And the reality is that rural North Idaho is behind the curve when it comes to online cybersecurity and awareness of cybercrimes -- but the University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene is hoping to change that.

UI Coeur d’Alene wants to help people and business owners from becoming victimized by providing real-world solutions through assessments, workshops and classes, said Karen Thurston, director of the Cybersecurity Training and Operations Center.

“The approach to cybersecurity is very similar to having a neighborhood watch,” Thurston said. “You’re learning how to lock your doors and to talk to your neighbors about suspicious activity. For example, a business may have 12 servers operating in an office closet. They only need two servers for their business, but the other 10 servers are connected to the internet and running all day and night. Why? Maybe those other servers should be disconnected because it’s providing an opportunity for hackers to get into their system and do some real damage.”

The University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene can provide local businesses and nonprofits cybersecurity assessments to help identify their own vulnerabilities to cyberattacks. “We look at the technology they use, their own processes and the people using the technology,” said Thurston. “All three areas are critical to have good cybersecurity. The goal is help people realize their own needs. The old saying, ‘You don’t know what you don’t know’ is very true and it can have consequences for businesses. A serious breach can cause 60 percent of small businesses to close.”

Uhrig agrees. He said small businesses don’t have the resources to survive thefts.

“I can tell you numerous smaller businesses have been hit really hard,” he said. “They’re not in a position to cover those losses. A $1,000 loss can knock the bottom out of a business. They don’t have insurance or the capital to absorb that kind of a loss.”

Thurston said the cybersecurity assessment is a vital first step in cybersecurity because it also includes a recommendation on how a business or nonprofit should address those areas of concern — either through university classes and workshops or going elsewhere for cyber solutions.

Thanks to an Idaho Department of Labor grant, the assessments will be offered at a nominal fee, reduced cost or at no cost to some organizations. Interested businesses and nonprofits should contact Thurston for more information. 

The Cybersecurity Training and Operations Center, located in the research park in Post Falls, offers a variety of cybersecurity workshops, certifications, and training for regional businesses. The Center also serves as a resource for students enrolled in the computer science education program offered by North Idaho College and the University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene.

For more information about the CTOC, email Karen Thurston at kthurston@uidaho.edu or call 208-664-7024. More information is also available at http://www.uidaho.edu/ctoc.

By MARC STEWART

Director of sponsored content