Canada: a growing haven for Web crime.

A recent Websense survey conducted by an online security firm ranked Canada as the second most popular host for phishing sites, which attempt to acquire sensitive information (e.g., usernames and passwords). The United States ranked first.

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According to the survey, phishing sites have grown by 319% in Canada over the past year, and bot networks have increased by 53%. The survey also revealed Canada is a growing center for bot networks used by hackers to perform malicious tasks or functions.

According to an SC Magazine article, Canada Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart has voiced her concerns about the "alarming trend toward ever-bigger data breaches" and called for "significant attention-getting fines" for companies whose poor security practices allow users' information to be compromised.

Stoddart also announced her intention to recommend that Industry Canada amend previously introduced legislation to include hefty fines when it is resubmitted for debate in Parliament.