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America’s Riskiest Cities for Cyber Crime

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Riskiest Cities for Cyber Crime

Is your city more likely than others to fall prey to cyber crime?  Symantec Corporation, one of the world’s largest makers of antivirus software and the independent research firm Sperling’s BestPlaces, collaborated on a report that ranks the top 50 cities most at risk for cyber crime.The rankings are based on anumber of factors, including cyber crimes reported, level of Internet access, expenditures on computer hardware and software, wireless hotspots, broadband connectivity, Internet usage and
Source: Symantec Corp. and Sperling’s BestPlacesPhoto: Christine Balderas | Stock Exclusive | Getty Images

Is your city more likely than others to fall prey to cyber crime?  Symantec Corporation, one of the world’s largest makers of antivirus software, and the independent research firm Sperling’s BestPlaces, collaborated on a report that ranks the top 50 cities most at risk for cyber crime.

The rankings are based on a number of factors, including cyber crimes reported, level of Internet access, expenditures on computer hardware and software, wireless hotspots, broadband connectivity, Internet usage and online behavior such as purchases and banking.

Click ahead to see which cities are most at risk for cyber crime.

Produced by Tonya Alexander
Posted 03 May 2010

10. Portland, OR

Population: 551,257WiFi Hotspots: 83.3/100K residentsInternet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 22.1 percentPortland sneaks into the top 10 as a result of very high scores in risky behavior and WiFi hotspots. Portland’s WiFi hotspots are 266 percent greater than the average of the top 50 cities. Over 53 percent of Portland residents use e-mail, which is 20.1 percent above average, and 30.1 percent of its residents purchase items online. eBay is especially popular with Portlanders, with 8 p
Source: Symantec Corp. and Sperling’s BestPlacesPhoto: WikiMedia Commons | Cacophony

Population: 551,257
WiFi Hotspots: 83.3/100K residents
Internet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 22.1 percent

Portland sneaks into the top 10 as a result of very high scores in risky behavior and WiFi hotspots. Portland’s WiFi hotspots are 266 percent greater than the average of the top 50 cities.

Over 53 percent of Portland residents use e-mail, which is 20.1 percent above average, and 30.1 percent of its residents purchase items online. eBay is especially popular with Portlanders, with 8 percent of residents use it to buy things.

9. Austin, Texas

Population717,448WiFi Hot Spots: 35.4/100K residents% of Internet Users accessing the internet at least 5 times a day: 22.5% Austin residents spend an annual average of $224.50 on hardware and $32.24 on software.  Nearly 9 percent use the Internet away from home,which is 37.1 percent above average 21.1 percent use the Internet for financial transactions (29 percent above average) and 45.9 percent have broadband connections, which is 16.1 percent above average.
Source: Symantec Corp. and Sperling’s BestPlacesPhoto: WikiMedia Commons | Zereshk

Population: 717,448
WiFi Hot Spots: 35.4/100K residents
Internet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 22.5 percent

Austin residents spend an annual average of $224.50 on hardware and $32.24 on software.  Nearly 9 percent use the Internet away from home, which is 37.1 percent above average. 21.1 percent use the Internet for financial transactions (29 percent above average) and 45.9 percent have broadband connections, which is 16.1 percent above average.

8. Denver, CO

Population: 573,485WiFi Hot Spots: 33.1/100K residents% of Internet Users accessing the internet at least 5 times a day: 21% Denver‘s internet use is 28.7 percent above average, and 9.6 percent use the Internet away from home, which is 29.1 percent above average.  Over 44 percent (44.5 percent) of Denver residents have broadband.
Source: Symantec Corp. and Sperling’s BestPlacesPhoto: WikiMedia Commons | Julio

Population: 573,485
WiFi Hot Spots: 33.1/100K residents
Internet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 21 percent 

Denver‘s internet use is 28.7 percent above average, and 9.6 percent use the Internet away from home, which is 29.1 percent above average.  Over 44 percent (44.5 percent) of Denver residents have broadband.

7. Minneapolis, MN

Population: 374,950WiFi Hot spots: 43.5/100K residents% of Internet Users accessing the internet at least 5 times a day: 22.7%
Source: Symantec Corp. and Sperling’s BestPlacesPhoto: WikiMedia Commons | Bobak Ha'Eri

Population: 374,950
WiFi Hot spots: 43.5/100K residents
Internet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 22.7 percent

Minneapolis residents spend $201.37 on hardware and $28.53 on software on average each year.  Nearly 10 percent of residents use the Internet outside their homes and over 21 percent use the Internet for financial reasons.

6. Atlanta, GA

Population: 500,348WiFi Hotspots: 93.9/100K residents% of Internet Users accessing the internet at least 5 times a day: 26.2%Atlanta, one of the top 50 cities for the most spam zombies, and the second most reported cyber attacks and malcode infections.  Residents are heavy users of Amazon (44.2 percent higher than average) and 46.6 percent more likely to use the Internet away from home than average. 
Source:  Symantec Corp. and Sperling’s BestPlacesPhoto: Atlantacitizen | WikiMedia Commons

Population: 500,348
WiFi Hotspots: 93.9/100K residents
Internet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 26.2 percent

Atlanta, one of the top 50 cities for the most spam zombies, and the second most reported cyber attacks and malcode infections.  Residents are heavy users of Amazon (44.2 percent higher than average) and 46.6 percent more likely to use the Internet away from home than average. 

5. Raleigh, N.C.

Population: 353,433WiFi Hotspots: 26/100K resident% of Internet Users accessing the internet at least once a day: 44%Raleigh residents are very comfortable using the Internet for financial transactions, with 22 percent of people using it to pay bills and nearly 30 percent using it to make purchases from sites like Amazon and eBay.   These figures are 34.5 percent and 16.8 percent higher than the American average.
Source: Symantec Corp. and Sperling’s BestPlacesPhoto: WikiMedia Commons | Ken Thomas

Population: 353,433
WiFi Hotspots: 26/100K resident
Internet Users accessing at least once a day: 44 percent

Raleigh residents are very comfortable using the Internet for financial transactions, with 22 percent of people using it to pay bills and nearly 30 percent using it to make purchases from sites like Amazon and eBay.  These figures are 34.5 percent and 16.8 percent higher than the American average.

4. San Francisco, CA

Population: 773,183WiFi Hot spots: 113/100K residentsInternet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 28.3 percentSan Francisco received the highest marks amount all cities for risky behavior and WiFi hotspots and the second highest marks for internet access and consumer expenditures.  More people in San Francisco have broadband internet connections (59.8 percent) than in the city.
Source: Symantec Corp. and Sperling’s BestPlacesPhoto: WikiMedia Commons sogospelman

Population: 773,183
WiFi Hot spots: 113/100K residents
Internet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 28.3 percent

San Francisco received the highest marks amount all cities for risky behavior and WiFi hotspots and the second highest marks for internet access and consumer expenditures.  More people in San Francisco have broadband internet connections (59.8 percent) than any other city.

3. Washington, D.C.

Population:  582,559WiFi Hotspots:  78.8/100K residentsInternet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 22 percentDC residents are heavy users of amazon.com; 12.9 percent of residents (39.6 percent higher than average) use it to make purchases.  Washington receives the fourth-most spam, online attacks and malcode of any city in this study.
Source: Symantec Corp. and Sperling’s BestPlacesPhoto: WikiMedia Commons | Aude

Population:  582,559
WiFi Hotspots:  78.8/100K residents
Internet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 22 percent

DC residents are heavy users of Amazon.com; 12.9 percent of residents (39.6 percent higher than average) use it to make purchases.  Washington receives the fourth-most spam, online attacks and malcode of any city in this study.

2. Boston, MA

Population: 589,928WiFi Hotspots: 53.6/100K residentsInternet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 23.6 percentBoston finished in second place overall due largely to its high levels of risky behavior (4 place) and WiFi availability (8 place).  It also ranked in the top 25% of all cities in Internet access and consumer expenditures.
Source: Symantec Corp. and Sperling’s BestPlacesPhoto: Hisham Ibrahim | Photographer's Choice RF | Getty Images

Population: 589,928
WiFi Hotspots: 53.6/100K residents
Internet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 23.6 percent

Boston finished in second place overall due largely to its high levels of risky behavior (4th place) and WiFi availability (8th place). It also ranked in the top 25 percent of all cities in Internet access and consumer expenditures.

1. Seattle, WA

Population: 590,810WiFi Hotspots: 103.2/100K residents% of Internet Users at least 5 times a day: 28.5%Seattle claims the dubious distinction of America’s leading riskiest cyber crime city, placing near the top in categories such as cyber attacks and potential infections; online behavior that can expose people more to cyber crime, such as online shopping and banking online and wireless Internet access and consumer expenditures.
Source: Symantec Corp. and Sperling’s BestPlacesPhoto: Jeremy Woodhouse | Photodisc | Getty Images

Population: 590,810
WiFi Hotspots: 103.2/100K residents
Internet Users accessing at least 5 times daily: 28.5 percent

Seattle claims the dubious distinction of America’s leading riskiest cyber crime city, placing near the top in categories such as cyber attacks and potential infections; online behavior that can expose people more to cyber crime, such as online shopping and banking online and wireless Internet access and consumer expenditures.

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American Greed

Watch American Greed's "Max Butler" episode on cyber crime