Armed with only a computer and internet access, criminals can access information systems in the United States from any physical location in the world, sabotage data by planting viruses and worms, or steal data and convert the information to fraudulent use for financial gain.

Business Technology Network reports that this year, over 121,000 incidents of viruses on information systems were reported. In 2002 alone, the cost of viruses and worms cost American business in excess of $45 billion dollars.