SYNOPSIS Emmanuel (Nigerian action star George Davidson), is an assassin who goes against the order of his contractor X (GuGu E. Michaels) and refuses to carry out a hit placed on Senator Kingston (New comer M.J. Mathias).
Emmanuel in danger, is forced to take a homeless man (Nigeria’s 5 times Kung Fu champion Leo U” Che) and turn him into the perfect killer. The deadly duo forms an alliance with Kingston and go after X the very man that hired Emmanuel for the Kingston hit. This action flick leads to an ultimate fighting showdown between the new generation assassin Samuel and the veteran head of the organization of Assassins X. Get ready for non-stop action, masterful fight sequences and out of the world visual effects that will leave the audience with their mouths open and in shock. Shot in High Definition (HD), with 35mm film look, shot with the backdrop of Lagos, Nigeria. Dangerous Men is a sure thing for all action fans across the globe.
Dangerous Men has attracted the interest of the major North American distributor TMG WARNER SYSTEM,
The production company GU International Pictures (GIP) is an American Nigerian multimedia entertainment company making films, music videos and other productions of world class standard.
DANGEROUS MEN is a thriller by GuGu E. Michaels, an accomplished filmmaker who has worked as a director and producer on a number of commercial and independent projects including the feature films "Thugz", "Repentance" and "Dangerous County". He has also helmed a number of campaigns for retailers like Cadillac, Lamborghini and Porche. Prior to co-founding New Era Pictures, Michaels served as president of Dallas based Redrumm Records and worked with such artists as hip hop giants UGK.
DANGEROUS MEN will start showing at Silverbird Cinemas from October 15, 2010.
We view contribution and service as a celebration of one’s gifts. We celebrate the grace that has been bestowed upon us as we honor our gifts though sharing them. There are men, women and children who, right now, do not have clean water to drink – we celebrate the fact that we are able to help quench their thirst.
We believe every person on the planet should have access to clean drinking water.
This year we celebrate our birthdays by giving the gift of clean drinking water through charity:water. Join us. 100% of the money raised goes to digging wells and to clean water projects in developing nations. 100% of our gifts will change the world, one person at a time. And make your next birthday a celebration of your gifts by raising money for clean drinking water too. We’ll take the top three fundraisers with us to Africa to see the wells when they’re built.
-Will and Jada Smith
Will and Jada Smith Team Up With charity: water to Provide Clean Water to People in Developing Nations
Three fundraising fans to join Smith family on trip to Africa
NEW YORK, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- charity: water and Will and Jada Smith are joining forces to help make an impact on the water crisis. The Smiths announced today that they are celebrating their September birthdays by asking their fans to make donations to help build water projects in developing nations. See the Smiths' personal video at: www.charitywater.org/willandjada
In a once in a lifetime opportunity, Will and Jada Smith are hosting a contest where the top three fundraisers to start their own birthday campaigns will join the Smith family on a trip to visit the completed water projects in Africa.
Will and Jada Smith said: "We view contribution and service as a celebration of one's gifts. We celebrate the grace that has been bestowed upon us as we honor our gifts though sharing them. There are men, women and children who, right now, do not have clean water to drink -- we celebrate the fact that we are able to help quench their thirst. "We believe every person on the planet should have access to clean drinking water.
"This year we celebrate our birthday by giving the gift of clean drinking water through charity: water. Join us. 100% of the money raised goes to digging wells and to clean water projects in developing nations. 100% of our gifts will change the world, one person at a time. And make your next birthday a celebration of your gifts by raising money for clean drinking water too. We'll take the top three fundraisers with us to Africa to see the wells when they're built."
Jada Smith is celebrating her 39th birthday on September 18th and Will Smith is celebrating his 42nd birthday on September 25th. 100 percent of funds raised from the Smiths' birthday campaign will go directly to water projects.
Scott Harrison, founder of charity: water said, "charity: water is extremely honored to have the support of Will and Jada Smith. Their enthusiasm for the cause is inspirational and we're excited to work together to help make a real dent in the water crisis. Our goal is to motivate others to join the birthday movement. Together, we can bring clean and safe drinking water to those in need."
Four years ago, charity: water was born in September with a birthday party. Since then, thousands of people from around the world are celebrating their birthdays using the online platform, mycharitywater.org to raise money to make an impact on the water crisis.
About charity: water charity: water (www.charitywater.org) is a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 100 percent of the money raised goes directly to project costs, funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need. Just $20 can give one person in a developing nation clean water for 20 years. In four years, with the help of more than 100,000 donors worldwide, charity: water has funded more than 2,900 water projects in 17 countries. Those projects will provide over 1,277,000 people with clean, safe drinking water.
Why water? Almost a billion people don't have access to clean, safe drinking water. Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80 percent of diseases and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Children are especially vulnerable, and women and children bear the burden of water collection.
SOURCE charity: water Back to top RELATED LINKS http://www.charitywater.org
Nigeria's 2011 election / A momentous opportunity to deepen democratic practice and uphold Commonwealth values
LONDON, September 13, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, has called on the leaders and people of Nigeria to work together towards a peaceful and credible election which will enjoy the full confidence of all Nigerians and the wider Commonwealth community.
Mr Sharma made this call following the formal release of election dates in January 2011 by the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC). According to INEC's timetable, National Assembly Elections are due on 15 January, Presidential Elections on 22 January and Gubernatorial Elections on 29 January.
“Nigeria is a valued member of the Commonwealth. It is the Commonwealth's largest member state in Africa and plays a leading role in a variety of ways in West Africa and beyond. It is therefore in the interest not only of the Nigerian people themselves but also of Africa, the Commonwealth and the international community as a whole that democracy thrives in Nigeria,” Mr Sharma added. political parties, civil society, the media and the electorate -- had a role to play in entrenching democratic culture and practice in order to achieve this goal.
“The Commonwealth,” Mr Sharma reiterated, “is committed to assisting Nigeria towards achieving the best ever election in its political history.” To this end, he urged all political parties to work together to ensure that the upcoming elections live up to the Commonwealth's stated democratic values and principles, to which Nigeria strongly subscribes.
Mr Sharma wished INEC, political parties and all other stakeholders all success in their preparations for the elections.
Obama's Proposed Oil and Gas Tax Hikes to Cost U.S. Economy 154,000 Jobs in 2011
White House's new 'stimulus' plans would trigger loss of $341 billion in economic activity
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Louisiana State University Endowed Chair of Banking and nationally-renowned economist Dr. Joseph R. Mason estimates that President Obama's proposed energy tax changes would trigger grave economic consequences. In the newly released "Regional and National Economic Impact of Repealing the Section 199 Tax Deduction and Dual-capacity Tax Credit for Oil and Gas Producers," Dr. Mason finds the resulting fallout over the next ten years would include:
-- Initial losses of over 154,000 jobs by the end of 2011, not only in the energy sector but across the whole economy; -- More than $341 billion in lost U.S. economic output; and -- In excess of $68 billion in lost wages nationwide.
"As we've seen in its 2011 budget and newly unveiled 'stimulus' plans, the Obama administration aims to single out U.S. oil and gas firms and raise the cost of energy for consumers by eliminating crucial tax credits to which all taxpayers are entitled," Dr. Mason said.
"Though politicians think they are selectively targeting 'Big Oil' with these energy tax proposals, they would actually devastate thousands of small American businesses nationwide as well as the workers who depend on them. With at least 150,000 U.S. jobs at stake - in fields ranging from healthcare to real estate - it's clear that the costs of repealing Section 199 and dual capacity far outweigh the potential benefit of increased government revenues that may be derived from the proposal."
"The discriminatory energy tax increases proposed by the administration will destroy American jobs and raise the price of energy for consumers," president and CEO of the American Energy Alliance Tom Pyle said. "President Obama's proposed changes -- which would apply solely to oil and gas companies -- have little to do with the debate over offshore drilling safety or even energy policy in general. This tax grab merely represents punitive policies that are now finding a place in the sun in the post-BP oil spill crisis political environment."
Using the government's own economic model - the U.S. Commerce Department's RIMS II system - Dr. Mason provides incredibly conservative economic impacts. In fact, these already staggering estimates do not even include the effects of the proposed tax increases on individual investors. That means if Congress implements these proposed changes, the economic fallout could be even more substantial.
Dr. Mason's report was sponsored by Save U.S. Energy Jobs - a project of the AEA - established to help promote the nation's energy sector. To learn more and get exclusive information on upcoming projects, follow Save U.S. Energy Jobs on Twitter and Facebook.
Founded in May, 2008, The American Energy Alliance ("AEA") is a not-for-profit organization that engages in grassroots public policy advocacy and debate concerning energy and environmental policies. AEA is the advocacy arm of the Institute for Energy Research (IER), a not-for-profit organization - founded in 1989 - that conducts intensive research and analysis on the functions, operations, and government regulation of global energy markets.
Source: American Energy Alliance
CONTACT: Laura Henderson of American Energy Alliance, +1-202-380-5758
President Goodluck Jonathan and a top leader of the ruling party.
Mr. Jonathan, Mr. Oghiadomhe, a note of thanks to the Presidency for the Shock and Awe move on Public officials
Authority in form of indirect dictatorship is the executive code of a president, and you Sir as well as the brain trust of your administration have shown this act of primacy in the recent days.
It’s a way of life at people will read different meanings into you recent steadfast actions as they relate to the swift removal of a number of senior public officials.
It is assumed that you took these exceptional actions for political, security, psychological and calculating reasons. To an extent the move appears Machiavellian in style and in strategy. But who cares?
For a society that is almost a failed State, long before your time, your actions no matter how despotic they appear to look are within your executive power and the confines of the law.
Sir, it is a fact that you or no other person cannot suddenly or fundamentally change the Nigerian society within the next few months.
As no one knows what may happen in the coming 2010 election, given the absolute lack of adequate time that surrounds its smooth execution.
Nevertheless, Sir use the next few days, few weeks and few months to show a clear commitment to the pursuit of high standards, ethics and fair play across all public institutions.
It has been so distressing to watch the society shrinking into the grounds of no-return. Sir, in spite of the mixed feelings you may have about the Diasporan and some Nigerian-based internet Newspapers they continue to bring to spotlight unbelievable acts of some public officials and the agonizing state of the society.
If there are any roadblocks the President needs to clear they should include the daunting problems in the area of public leadership.
Sir is one thing to change one official head for another as in the case of the now ex-security chiefs. If the country is to be clearly equipped with new leadership as with your recent appointments, let each of them undergo African-oriented Psychological assessment to somewhat ensure that their respective personality style or makeup have a direct correlation to public and institutional ethics.
Sir, as an academic you know that irrespective of the ethnic considerations for appointments in a Tribal/Presidential Democracy like Nigeria, there are still other factors to consider in a public official, senior officials especially.
These factors include indexes of genuineness, competency, empathy and honesty as they are what should characterize public leaders. Sir, it is time for the nation to start looking at how competent and loyal is various policy officials, institution Directors and other Heads are to the people.
It is by cleaning the internal control structure of agencies that actual gain or outputs can be seen at all levels of public governance. Sir, when will we see more acts of shock and awe in public entities like the universities, court administration, postal service, schools management, procurement management, ammunition management, labor management, traffic management, and other security related agencies? Let’s hope it is soon.
Mr. President, time is critical and it is an inescapable fact that no one knows how the 2011 Presidential contest will unfold across the North and South, as such help the ordinary people by ‘stepping on more toes’, by ‘throwing more dirt’ or frighten the sensibilities of officials who continue to show total disregard to commonsense practices and governance.
Again, with more shock and awe changes, the acts of accountability and transparency will be forever tied to your Presidential name, to your executive staff and other brain trusts in the administration.
~ By John Oshodi
John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D, DABPS, FACFE is a practicing Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and the Interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs-Behavioral Science, North Campus, Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida. joshodi@broward.edu
"In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes.". ~ Andy Warhol
Rev. Terry Jones got his Andy Warhol’s moment as his preposterous threat to burn copies of the Qur'an on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, which he called "International Burn a Koran Day” shook the whole world within minutes and made him and his http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dove_World_Outreach_Center Dove World Outreach Center of only 50 members famous beyond their little corner of the earth in Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A.
Rev. Terry Jones, the firebrand pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center.
Muslims worldwide were enraged and protests broke out in Afghanistan and other Islamic cities with three people reported dead. President Barack Obama and other world leaders including notable Christian leaders have condemned his senseless plan. He received an invitation to fly to New York to meet with Feisal Abdul Rauf, the imam of Park51, and he has decided to suspend his plan, but he would not cancel it.
GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 10: Conor Munro (R) joins a protest across the street from Dove World Outreach Center where Pastor Terry Jones had scheduled a Koran burning for tomorrow on September 10, 2010 in Gainesville, Florida. Jones has said that he would cancel the planned burning of Korans on Saturday if he was able to meet with the organizers building the Park51 mosque near Ground Zero. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle) Courtesty of the Washington Post.
No right thinking person would have joined Rev. Terry Jones to burn the Qur’an. But there have been confirmed reports of Muslims destroying the Holy Bible. The reports said copies of the Holy Bible are “confiscated -- and sometimes shredded -- by Saudi customs officials at ports of entry.”
Let the Muslims destroy copies of the Holy Bible, but would they be able to stop the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ never supported violence and was a peacemaker and commanded his believers to live in peace with all and not to force others to believe in him. He never waged war against anyone like Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Jesus Christ never beheaded anyone or abducted any woman and he was not a terrorist. The difference between Christianity and Islam is as clear as blood and water. Therefore, true Christians must practice what Jesus Christ preached and follow his holy footsteps.
Jesus Christ would not support any Christian to burn any Holy Book, including the Qur’an.
The best way to mark September 11 is to remember the beloved ones we lost and light a candle for everyone of them. Join in the Day of Remembrance Memorial Service.
"How blessed are those who make peace, because it is they who will be called God's children! ~ Matthew 5:9
I light a candle for everyone of our beloved ones we lost on that fateful day.
I condemned the plan by Rev. Terry Jones to burn copies of the Qur'an and asked my readers to join in the Day of Remembrance Memorial Service, but my news blog www.247nigeria.com was hacked this morning by the enemies of peace.
I have posted my special report on http://forum.247nigeria.com/index.php?topic=262.msg349#msg349, to ask for peace and to say no to violence.
Immigration Hostility Widespread in U.S. and 5 Largest European Countries
Many people in all six countries see negative impact on economy, jobs and public services
NEW YORK, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- A new Financial Times/Harris Poll finds that immigration is widely unpopular in the United States and in all of the five largest countries in Europe. The survey asked about immigration generally and not about illegal immigration. Majorities in four of the countries and pluralities in the other two believe that immigration makes it harder to find new jobs. Majorities in three countries and over 40% in the other three believe it has a bad effect on education. Majorities in four of the countries and 40% or more in the other two think it has a bad effect on health care services. Americans, even though they live in what has been described as a nation of immigrants are not, in general, any less hostile to immigration than Europeans.
These are some of the findings of a Financial Times/Harris Poll conducted online by Harris Interactive® among 6,098 adults aged 16-64 within France (1,004), Germany (1,036), Great Britain (1,099), Spain (1,032), U.S. (989) and adults aged 18-64 in Italy (948) between August 18 and 25, 2010.
The main findings of this new poll include:
-- Majorities in Britain and Spain, and large minorities in the U.S., France, Italy , and Germany think that immigration has a bad impact on the economy; -- Majorities in the U.S., Britain, Italy, and Spain believe that immigration makes it harder to find a new job, as do 45% in France and 46% in Germany; -- While most people who are working do not believe that immigration has had any effect on their pay, those who think they are paid less greatly outnumber those who say they are paid more; -- Only minorities, between 13% in France and 40% in Italy, believe that immigration has made it more affordable to hire services such as cleaners, builders or plumbers; -- Majorities in the U.S., Britain, France and Spain and over 40% in Italy and Germany believe that immigration makes the level of health care services worse; and, -- Majorities in the U.S., Britain and Germany believe that immigration has made public education worse, as do over 40% in France, Italy and Spain.
Overall, many people in all six countries believe that the current level of immigration makes their countries worse places to live in , varying from 64% in Britain, 60% in Spain, and 57% in Italy to 49% in the U.S., 44% in Germany, and 43% in France.
So What?
This survey underlines the political problems that confront governments and politicians when they are addressing issues of immigration, and the easy opportunities for populist leaders to win votes by advocating anti-immigration policies. And of course the issue of illegal immigration, that was not addressed in this survey, is much more difficult.
TABLE 1 IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION ON SALARY "Thinking about your current salary and immigration, do you think you are paid any less, more or no differently as a result of current immigration into Europe/the U.S.?"
British Airways Launches 2010 Face-to-Face Program; Offers 250 U.S. Entrepreneurs the Opportunity to Grow Internationally New York, Sept. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — British Airways today relaunches its Face-to-Face Program and offers U.S. entrepreneurs and small business owners the critical tools for building business relationships abroad and stimulating growth Face-to-Face.
As part of the Face-to-Face campaign, British Airways will award 250 small businesses the opportunity to travel to London and beyond through the British Airways Face of Opportunity contest. Any entrepreneur or small business owner with a clear business need for international exposure should visit www.ba.com/facetoface for the opportunity to compete for and win a free flight.
British Airways strongly believes face-to-face interaction with global stakeholders is a critical tool to help entrepreneurs and small businesses build ongoing, mutually beneficial business relationships abroad, effectively supporting U.S. economic growth and global expansion and exports.
British Airways Face of Opportunity Contest: Beginning today, entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to expand or enhance their business internationally may submit a video or essay of their best “elevator” pitch at www.ba.com/contest. Entering the contest provides a chance to earn a free flight to London or anywhere in the British Airways network to facilitate face-to-face meetings with potential and existing customers and business partners. Prior to the New York to London flight early next year, all 250 winners will have the exclusive opportunity to attend British Airways' Face of Opportunity event on Wed, Feb. 2, 2011, in New York City, where they will receive firsthand tips and advice from influential international business experts while networking with venture capitalists, renowned entrepreneurs, media and other small business owners. Three selected winners also will have the chance to present their business plans to a panel of celebrity entrepreneur judges, including Bill Rancic, Barbara Corcoran and Bethenny Frankel, for a chance to win a British Airways Business Opportunity Grant, featuring additional free flights to London, or anywhere in the British Airways global network. British Airways Face-to-Face Summary: British Airways launched the first Face-to-Face Program in July 2009, giving more than 600 small business owners the opportunity to travel overseas and conduct face-to-face business meetings that resulted in deeper partnerships, contracts and revenue for U.S. cities. The 2009 flights provided previous winners such as Morgan Newman, of IdeaPaint in Massachusetts, and Judi Townsend, of Mannequin Madness in Oakland, California, a chance to enter new markets and achieve continued growth and profitability in 2010. To learn more about past winners, visit: http://businessconnect.ba.com/success-stories. British Airways Face of Opportunity Elevator Pitch Event (Sept. 14 and 15, 2010): On Tues. and Wed. Sept. 14 and 15, from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., small business owners may videotape their best elevator pitch to enter the British Airways Face of Opportunity Contest and the chance to win the opportunity of a lifetime – a flight anywhere in the world to help them grow their business internationally. Interested entrepreneurs and small businesses may visit Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal, New York City, on Tues., Sept. 14 beginning at 7 a.m., when Bill Rancic, entrepreneur, best-selling author and first season winner of The Apprentice, and Simon Talling-Smith, Executive Vice President, Americas, British Airways, will launch the British Airways Face of Opportunity Contest. Small business expert and best-selling author, Rhonda Abrams, and other special guests also will be on-hand offering speed consulting and tips to small business owners.
British Airways Advisory Board: British Airways has built a coalition of trusted authorities and thought leaders from the small business community. The Face-to-Face advisory board has contributed to crafting the campaign, contest and conference content to ensure British Airways offers comprehensive resources to SMEs and entrepreneurs via the Face-to-Face campaign. Custom content for small business owners and entrepreneurs developed by the British Airways Face-to-Face advisory board members will be available on an on-going basis on the Face-to-Face microsite: www.ba.com/facetoface. The board will provide tips and counsel to winners and attend various events throughout the program. Advisory board members include:
Rhonda Abrams, best-selling author and Founder/CEO of The Planning Shop Anita Campbell, CEO of Small Business Trends LLC Kevin Daum, author and columnist for Smarter Business Adam Ostrow, Editor and Chief, Mashable.com Nancy Ploeger, President of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Andrew Sherman, legal and strategic advisor for small businesses, Partner, Jones Day Rich Sloan, Co-founder of Startup Nation Steve Strauss, Best-selling author and senior USATODAY.com business columnist
Supporting Quotes: “For the second year, British Airways is proud to be supporting US entrepreneurs and small businesses through our Face-to-Face program,” said Simon Talling-Smith, Executive Vice President, Americas, British Airways. “Last year, we gave over 600 companies the opportunity to conduct business the way it should be done – in person. We provided the flights and they took it from there, attending meetings all over the world. New deals were sealed and important relationships forged – that’s the impact of face-to-face. Top business leaders agree that there’s nothing quite like being there in person to make the deals that will move your business forward. We're excited to have the opportunity to reach this market again and provide the flights they need to seal the business deal."”
“British Airways Face-to-Face program is offering much-needed resources to small businesses who are the cornerstone and future of the US economy. In my experience, face to face meetings are crucial to growing a successful business,” says Bill Rancic, entrepreneur and star of “We Mean Business” and “Giuliani and Bill.” “The world has gotten smaller and more connected. Every entrepreneur should look beyond their borders to see how they can be more competitive, more innovative, more successful. Get a free copy of my new ebook, Go Global, Grow Global, compliments of British Airways at ba.com/contest,” says Rhonda Abrams, best-selling author and Founder/CEO of The Planning Shop
Supporting Resources: Check out the latest Face-to-Face Contest submissions at http://www.faceofopportunity.com/. Subscribe to British Airways RSS feed. Receive real-time updates on British Airways and the Face-to-Face program by following @BritishAirways and search #BAF2F Face-to-Face Press Image Library Technorati Tags Face-to-Face, Small Business, Business Opportunity, Rhonda Abrams, Bill Rancic, Bethenny Frankel, British Airways, BA, Contest
About British Airways: British Airways is one of the world's largest international airlines. Operating one of the most extensive international scheduled airline route networks, together with its codeshare and franchise partners, the airline flies to more than 300 destinations worldwide. Also, one of the world's longest established airlines, it has always been regarded as an industry-leader. BA flies its customers at convenient times to the best located airports across the world.
British Airways is one of the world’s leading global premium airlines. Its principal place of business is London with significant presence at Heathrow, Gatwick and London City. It also operates a worldwide air cargo business, largely in conjunction with scheduled passenger services. The airline operates the majority of its domestic UK, international and intercontinental flights from its home at Terminal 5, Heathrow.
Whether customers are in the air or on the ground, British Airways takes pride in providing a full service experience.
For more information on Face-to-Face please visit ba.com/facetoface
Submission of contest entries at the Vanderbilt Hall event does not improve the chances of winning.
All entries will be judged according to the criteria set forth in the Official Contest Rules at www.ba.com/contest.
The Silent Epidemic: Cybercrime Strikes More Than Two-Thirds of Internet Users
New Norton Study of 7,000 Web Users Is First to Gauge Emotional Impact of Cybercrime; Victims Feel Ripped Off ... and Pissed Off
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The next time you surf the Internet, consider this: You might be just one click away from becoming the next cybercrime victim. A new study released today from security software maker Norton reveals the staggering prevalence of cybercrime: Two-thirds (65 percent) of Internet users globally, and almost three-quarters (73 percent) of U.S. Web surfers have fallen victim to cybercrimes, including computer viruses, online credit card fraud and identity theft. As the most victimized nations, America ranks third, after China (83 percent) and Brazil and India (tie 76 percent).
The Norton Cybercrime Report: The Human Impact shines a light on the personal toll cybercrime takes. The first study to examine the emotional impact of cybercrime, it shows that victims' strongest reactions are feeling angry (58 percent), annoyed (51 percent) and cheated (40 percent), and in many cases, they blame themselves for being attacked. Only 3 percent don't think it will happen to them, and nearly 80 percent do not expect cybercriminals to be brought to justice-- resulting in an ironic reluctance to take action and a sense of helplessness.
"We accept cybercrime because of a 'learned helplessness'," said Joseph LaBrie, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Loyola Marymount University. "It's like getting ripped off at a garage - if you don't know enough about cars, you don't argue with the mechanic. People just accept a situation, even if it feels bad."
Despite the emotional burden, the universal threat, and incidents of cybercrime, people still aren't changing their behaviors - with only half (51 percent) of adults saying they would change their behavior if they became a victim. Even scarier, fewer than half (44 percent) reported the crime to the police.
Cybercrime victim Todd Vinson of Chicago explained, "I was emotionally and financially unprepared because I never thought I would be a victim of such a crime. I felt violated, as if someone had actually come inside my home to gather this information, and as if my entire family was exposed to this criminal act. Now I can't help but wonder if other information has been illegally acquired and just sitting in the wrong people's hands, waiting for an opportunity to be used."
Solving cybercrime can be highly frustrating: According to the report, it takes an average of 28 days to resolve a cybercrime, and the average cost to resolve that crime is $334. Twenty-eight percent of respondents said the biggest hassle they faced when dealing with cybercrime was the time it took to solve.
But despite the hassle, reporting a cybercrime is critical. "We all pay for cybercrime, either directly or through pass-along costs from our financial institutions," said Adam Palmer, Norton lead cyber security advisor. "Cybercriminals purposely steal small amounts to remain undetected, but all of these add up. If you fail to report a loss, you may actually be helping the criminal stay under the radar."
The "human impact" aspect of the report delves further into the little crimes or white lies consumers perpetrate against friends, family, loved ones and businesses. Nearly half of respondents think it's legal to download a single music track, album or movie without paying. Twenty-four percent believe it's legal or perfectly okay to secretly view someone else's e-mails or browser history. Some of these behaviors, such as downloading files, open people up to additional security threats.
But there are simple steps people can take to protect themselves, according to the report. "People resist protecting themselves and their computers because they think it's too complicated," said Anne Collier, co-director of ConnectSafely.org and editor of NetFamilyNews.org, who collaborated with Norton on the study. "But everyone can take simple steps, such as having up-to-date, comprehensive security software in place. In the case of online crime, an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure."
The best defense against cybercrime, and the best way to protect yourself, is to surf the Internet with up-to-date, comprehensive security software such as Norton Internet Security 2011, which was launched today.
For more tips, and insights from this groundbreaking study, or to better understand the alarming extent of cybercrime, the feelings of powerlessness and lack of justice felt by its victims, please view the full Norton Cybercrime Report: The Human Impact here.
About Norton from Symantec
Symantec's Norton products protect consumers from cybercrime with technologies like antivirus, anti-spyware and phishing protection -- while also being light on system resources. The company also provides services such as online backup, PC tuneup, and family online safety. Fan Norton on Facebook at www.facebook.com/norton and follow @NortonOnline on Twitter.
About Symantec
Symantec is a global leader in providing security; storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.
Note to Editors: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please visit the Symantec News Room at http://www.symantec.com/news.
Symantec and Norton are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Norton Cybercrime Report: The Human Impact Methodology:
The Norton Cybercrime Report: The Human Impact 2010 is based on research conducted in February 2010 by StrategyOne, an independent market research firm, on behalf of Symantec Corporation. StrategyOne conducted an online survey among 7,066 adults aged 18 and over.
The survey was conducted in 14 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States). The survey was conducted in the primary language of each country. Questions asked were identical across all countries. Interviews were conducted between 2nd - 22nd February 2010. The margin of error for the total sample of adults (N=7,066) is + 1.16% at the 95% level of confidence.
For the purposes of the study, cybercrime is identified as computer viruses/malware, online credit card fraud, online hacking, online harassment, online identity theft, online scams (i.e., fraudulent lotteries/employment opportunities), online sexual predation, online phishing.
For the study, Norton and StrategyOne collaborated with Anne Collier, editor of NetFamilyNews.org and founder and executive director of its parent organization, Net Family News, Inc. Anne is a writer and journalist who has worked in the news media since 1980. She co-directs ConnectSafely.org, a Web-based interactive forum and information site for teens, parents, educators, and everybody interested in the impact of the social Web on youth and vice versa. ConnectSafely is a project of Net Family News, Inc. Anne has just completed her work as co-chair of the Obama administration's Online Safety & Technology Working Group and serves on the advisory boards of the London- and Washington-based Family Online Safety Institute and GetNetWise.org, a project of the Washington-based Internet Education Foundation. In 2008, she served on the Internet Safety Technical Task Force at Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet & Society.
Helen Malani Karina Carretero Norton from Symantec Edelman Public Relations +1 424 750 7885 +1 (323) 202-1899 Helen_Malani@symantec.com Karina.Carretero@edelman.com
CONTACT: Helen Malani of Norton from Symantec, +1-424-750-7885, Helen_Malani@symantec.com; or Karina Carretero of Edelman Public Relations, +1-323-202-1899, Karina.Carretero@edelman.com, for Symantec
