Top 10 overseas security trends for the U.S. private sector in 2007
10 Private-Sector Security Issues Worldwide for 2007
* Africa: Rising violent crime in major cities
Violent crimes occurred at critical levels throughout many African cities. Criminals targeted their victims in vehicles, hotels, and commercial areas. Fatal carjacking attacks as well as armed robbery of residences, hotels and restaurants have dramatically increased in major cities such as Lagos, Nigeria, Nairobi, Kenya, and Johannesburg, South Africa. Private sector organizations operating in high-crime environments must implement sufficient measures to protect both property and personnel.
* Africa: Increased kidnapping in the Niger Delta
This past year, the number of kidnappings, both onshore and off-shore, by militant groups and criminal gangs in the Niger Delta increased dramatically compared to 2006. Attackers targeted locally employed staff of Western-owned oil companies, expatriates, and their families. In addition to continued threats against oil workers, individuals not affiliated with the petroleum industry — including Nigerian government officials — also were targeted for kidnapping. On an encouraging note, one report indicated the rate of kidnappings had slowed considerably in the second half of 2007.
*Asia: Theft of trade secrets and insider threats
The private sector in Asia faces a significant threat of fraud, including theft of trade and business secrets, and these threats have increased exponentially in recent years. India and China, two of Asia’s largest players on the international business stage, continue to be among the nations where the private sector faces the most intense risk of theft of commercial secrets and insider threats. Companies must perform extensive due diligence measures to guard against document fraud by job applicants, competitors trying to place an insider to steal company secrets, and theft and compromise of trade and commercial secrets.
* Asia: Regional and domestic terrorism
The effects of regional and domestic terrorism are apparent across Asia. Pakistan is a prime example where transnational terrorists and domestic insurgencies are increasingly active, as exhibited by continued recruitment of extremists, terrorist training, and terrorist operations against official and private sector targets. This has been most evident in attacks across India and attacks by extremists targeting the government and military in Pakistan. These threats require the American private sector to operate at heightened levels of security, often resulting in increased operating costs and heightened concerns by employees and investors.
* Europe: Cyber attacks
In the wake of a political controversy, Estonia was victimized by cyber attacks which plagued the Web sites of the government, media
