Committee announce new inquiry into Malware and Cyber-crime

The Committee previously looked into the risks of cyber-crime in its third report of the 2010-12 Session, Scientific advice and evidence in emergencies.  The focus of that inquiry was on national security and events that would require a national response rather than small scale, everyday cyber-crime.  This call for evidence builds on the work of the Committee in this area.

Terms of Reference

The Committee seeks submissions on the following matters:

1. What proportion of cyber-crime is associated with malware?
2. Where does the malware come from? Who is creating it and why?
3. What level of resources are associated with combating malware?
4. What is the cost of malware to individuals and how effective is the industry in providing protection to computer users?
5. Should the Government have a responsibility to deal with the spread of malware in a similar way to human disease?
6. How effective is the Government in co-ordinating a response to cyber-crime that uses malware?

Submitting written evidence

The Committee invites written submissions on these issues by midday on Wednesday 7 September 2011.

Each submission should:
a) be no more than 3,000 words in length
b) be in Word format with as little use of colour or logos as possible
c) have numbered paragraphs
d) include a declaration of interests.

A copy of the submission should be sent by e-mail to scitechcom@parliament.uk and marked "Malware". An additional paper copy should be sent to:

The Clerk
Science and Technology Committee
House of Commons
7 Millbank
London SW1P 3JA

Please note that:

• Material already published elsewhere should not form the basis of a submission, but may be referred to within a proposed memorandum, in which case a hard copy of the published work should be included.
• Memoranda submitted must be kept confidential until published by the Committee, unless publication by the person or organisation submitting it is specifically authorised.
• Once submitted, evidence is the property of the Committee. The Committee normally, though not always, chooses to make public the written evidence it receives, by publishing it on the internet (where it will be searchable), by printing it or by making it available through the Parliamentary Archives. If there is any information you believe to be sensitive you should highlight it and explain what harm you believe would result from its disclosure. The Committee will take this into account in deciding whether to publish or further disclose the evidence.
• Select Committees are unable to investigate individual cases.

More information on submitting evidence to Select Committees may be found on the parliamentary website at: http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/have-your-say/take-part-in-committee-inquiries/witness/