Beware Christmas data theft dangers, warn police.

The article reports that police, security experts and lawyers have warned the Information Technology Departments against corporate data theft in Great Britain. Law firm Mishcon de Reya said data theft was the fastest growing area of corporate fraud and featured in one in every three fraud cases investigated by the firm. The Metropolitan Police's Computer Crime Unit said that although hacking and virus attacks tend to slow down over Christmas, businesses were at greater risk from internal attacks on company data. Detective inspector Chris Simpson, who heads the unit, said that companies usually have a skeleton staff in their offices over the festive period. While there are many reasons for a physical presence in the office, managers must be acutely aware that unsupervised staff may be much more able to abuse internal systems. The firm urged businesses to take steps such as locking down USB ports and CD drives on PCs, and configuring printers so they cannot be used to print out reams of information. INSET: Sober X worm will strike in January.