How to combat cybercrimes

If a company in Rosedale, California, has become the victim of cybercrime, investigating the theft of intellectual property is an important part of recovering damages to the business. In the digital age, this is constantly becoming a more complex process. Tech Republic provides some advice for companies to follow in the event of intellectual property theft.

When the company goes to court, any evidence that has been altered in any way may not be admissible. While shutting down the system where the leak is suspected may stop further theft, it could also delete the proof of the activity and its source. Instead, experts advise that a company seeks support from internal or external specialists from the beginning to prevent a loss of data.

The U.S. Department of Justice states that law enforcement should be contacted immediately if a company has evidence of a cybercrime. When an employer suspects a theft and conducts an internal investigation, all actions should be recorded and handed over to authorities to streamline the process. Examples of information officials may find helpful include the following:

• Relevant domain names, email and IP addresses, and other Internet involvement
• Intellectual property description, including registrations and approximate value
• Potential suspects, including employment information and the reasons for suspicion

There are task forces set up on the local, state and federal levels to fight cybercrime, and these groups often work closely together during investigations. Federal agencies that are often involved include the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. The Department of Justice has also provided funding at the state and local level to provide investigative resources, as well.