Mideast increasingly at risk from cyber-crime

Lack of awareness and limited expenditure on security leaves region vulnerable
: "BEIRUT: Almost halfway through 2005 and it already seems as though this year will far surpass 2004 as the worst year on record for global cyber-crime. Perhaps more disturbingly, despite having racked up impressive numbers last year - online viruses grew by more than 50 percent and identity theft attempts rose by more than 30 percent - recent reports of widespread breaches at some of the biggest U.S. corporations have finally seemed to offer compelling proof that even the most sophisticated networks are vulnerable to corruption, eavesdropping and outright larceny."