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Cybercriminals: A Look at Their World and Their Threat to Business A disturbing look at the far-reaching depths of the cybercriminal network--and what you can do to make sure the bad element stays out of your company.

By Ericka Chickowski

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The face of today's cybercriminal looks surprisingly familiar. He has an expansive network of partners and technology geeks. He's contracted out research and development to write his software and middle managers to make sure everyone in his organization is doing their part to rake in the dough. He's a smart businessman who is able to leverage others' skill sets to turn a profit.

Sounds like someone you can relate to, right--someone embracing the entrepreneurial spirit? That's precisely the problem. That character is emblematic of the new wave of cybercriminals who are taking over the internet, making millions off the backs of honest business owners and consumers around the world.

Related: Six Tips for Surviving a Cyber Security Threat

"Over the past year, cybercriminals have been more financially motivated than ever," says Neil Daswani, co-founder and chief technology officer of security firm Dasient. "Cybercriminals are very entrepreneurial indeed, although they are surely not moral."

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