Ten security trends worth watching

1. Information is more valuable than ever

Amazon.com Inc. relies on information to make purchasing of books easier through its one-click purchasing system. Similarly, when Internet retailer Pets.com went belly-up, the company's database of customers "was the only asset of value they had,"

2. Networks are critical infrastructure.

"If the Net goes down, or part of the Net goes down, it really affects the economy,

3. Users do not necessarily control information about themselves

Internet service providers have control over records the Web sites that users visit and email messages they send and receive.

some mobile operators keep a copy of users' phone books on their servers

"There's a lot of value in information about you," Schneier said. "But you have no control over the security of that information, even though it may be highly personal."

4. Hacking is increasingly a criminal profession