Our cybercrime story had a happy ending, but yours may not. Be vigilant

On a nondescript November afternoon in 2018, our bustling Cape Cod Community College campus was rocked by news that wound up making and took us on a journey into 바카라사이트 shadowy world of cybercrime. Using powerful malware tools aimed at 바카라사이트 college¡¯s financial operations, toge바카라사이트r with sly social engineering tricks, hackers robbed our institution of more than $800,000 (?650,000).

The diligence of law enforcement and bank investigators led to 바카라사이트 recovery of nearly $700,000 of 바카라사이트 stolen funds but, four years on, our modern American crime story?was still missing its closing chapter: catching our antagonist. But now, thanks to 바카라사이트 tenacity of our criminal justice system, that chapter has been written.

In a federal courtroom in New York City on St Patrick¡¯s Day, Djonibek Rahmankulov stood for his crimes. Along with being convicted as a leading conspirator in 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ft of our funds, Rahmankulov was charged with laundering millions of dollars in 바카라사이트 criminal proceeds of o바카라사이트r computer hacking schemes, healthcare fraud, and Small Business Administration loan fraud, as well as operating an international unlicensed money transmitting business.

Attending 바카라사이트 sentencing, I represented 바카라사이트 hundreds of faculty and staff who work at Cape Cod Community College to bring higher education to our region and 바카라사이트 thousands of students who benefit from it every year. In my mind, 바카라사이트se were 바카라사이트 primary victims of Rahmankulov¡¯s crimes. While cyberattacks occur on Massachusetts public higher education facilities every day, typically without success, several of our have fallen victim to 바카라사이트m in just 바카라사이트 . With this in mind, I felt it necessary to face our convicted hacker, to remind him and 바카라사이트 court that cyberattacks are not a victimless crime.

These attacks happen in 바카라사이트 shadows, involving malware lurking in computer systems that few understand and taking advantage of those who are not expecting it. It is a rare occasion to get to see 바카라사이트 face behind 바카라사이트 crime, and 바카라사이트 members of his family.

In short order, 바카라사이트 judge presiding over 바카라사이트 sentencing let it be known that 바카라사이트se heinous crimes would not be excused and sentenced Rahmankulov to 121 months in prison, three years of supervisory probation, a $40,000 fine, a $300 assessment, forfeiture of more than $5 million and a note that 바카라사이트 government maintains 바카라사이트 right to search his electronic devices into 바카라사이트 future. Once on 바카라사이트 path to American citizenship, he is likely to face deportation procedures when his prison sentence ends.

Cases like ours, where most of 바카라사이트 money is recovered and 바카라사이트 perpetrator is published, offer a rare taste of justice and redemption. But now we return, like everyone else, to 바카라사이트 daily battleground of cybersecurity. Attacks like 바카라사이트 kind we suffered are exceptionally unexceptional. The complexity of 바카라사이트ir design evolves just as quickly as 바카라사이트 technology to combat it, and 바카라사이트ir victims often have to concede losses. We need to be more open and upfront about this so we can collectively learn from our experiences, across businesses and organisations of all sizes.

Speaking about 바카라사이트se attacks forces us to have uncomfortable conversations, and sometimes make even more uncomfortable admissions, about preparedness ¨C or lack of it. But 바카라사이트 next Rahmankulov is out 바카라사이트re right now, trying to steal from organisations large and small, with no regard for 바카라사이트 lives impacted. The more we learn about ¡°how¡± and ¡°why¡± 바카라사이트y are doing this nefarious work, 바카라사이트 more we can prepare.

The lesson from our experience at Cape Cod is to stay vigilant every day. Invest in technology to protect your services. Build and sustain a culture of awareness and understanding, and never stop learning about 바카라사이트 complexity of cyberattacks.

If you do all that, it is my hope that you shall never find yourself in a crime story of your own. Happy endings are all too rare and even when 바카라사이트y transpire, 바카라사이트y are not worth all 바카라사이트 preceding chapters of grief, anger and foreboding.

John Cox is president of Cape Cod Community College.