Title: Victims of cybercrime are suffering emotional trauma - Infosecurity Magazine
Headings: #ISC2Congress: Cybercrime Victims Left Depressed and Traumatized
#ISC2Congress: Cybercrime Victims Left Depressed and Traumatized
Eleanor Dallaway Editorial Director, Infosecurity Magazine
Victims of cybercrime are suffering emotional trauma which can lead to depression, an expert warned

Content: In nine out of ten cases, there is a financial loss to the victim – a loss which gets greater when stolen data is sold. A less understood impact, however, is the emotional trauma experienced by the individuals that have been impacted. “Victims often feel that there has been an invasion of their privacy,” Howard explained. “ People feel victimized, that they’ve suffered a traumatic experience. It is the very same feelings that victims of assault experience. They’re upset, they’re depressed, they feel guilt.” From a behavioral standpoint, victims can suffer insomnia and eating disorders, Howard said, “and as we’ve seen in the cases of large-scale breaches, a percentage of people go off on workmen’s compensation as a result.” Interestingly, for some people, the threat of their stolen data being used is as traumatic as the reality of it actually happening, explained Howard. She referred to the Ashley Madison breach, when a man committed suicide after email threats to expose him. “ His name was never actually leaked – this is an example of how the threat of a situation can be as distressful as the actual leaking of information.”