Symantec and Europol strengthen cooperation in joint fight against cybercrime

Today Europol’s Cybercrime Centre (EC3) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Symantec at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, which allows for enhanced cooperation in the joint fight against the growing problem of cybercrime. Combating today’s digital security challenges requires a collective approach in which law enforcement and private industry work together.

Amid this complex environment, partnerships between the public and private sector are increasingly important, especially as technology continues to evolve. The MoU allows for the exchange of expertise, statistics and other strategic information. Cooperation between Europol’s EC3 and Symantec has already led to successful preventative activities, as well as operational successes, such as the international action  against the 'Gameover Zeus' botnet and 'CryptoLocker' ransomware in June this year.

Troels Oerting, Head of the EC3 says: "The signing of this MoU is, for EC3, an important, tangible and natural follow up of the trusted and close cooperation we already have with one of the security industry leaders. Since the establishment of the EC3, Symantec has been a valuable partner for us, and this cooperation has now been codified. Ilias Chantzos, Senior Director Government Affairs, has also recently joined the EC3 Advisory Group as a selected and appointed member, and with the signing of this MoU we can raise the bar to optimize our partnership providing our citizens and businesses greater security against the increased number of cybercriminals who want to steal our information, identity, money and digital life. Cybercrime has changed the rules of the game and policing for cybercrime is increasingly difficult. Today it got a bit easier for EC3 and I am grateful for that".

"Cybercrime is borderless, and effectively combatting it requires cooperation between law enforcement and the private sector," said Cheri McGuire, Vice President of Global Government Affairs & Cybersecurity Policy at Symantec. "The MoU we signed today with the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) is an important step in Symantec’s ongoing efforts to build trusted public-private partnerships to fight cybercrime. With our shared commitment to improving online security and trust throughout Europe, we look forward to working more closely with the EC3 on ways to do so."