Threats to your personal information are coming from organized-crime rings all over the globe, according to Shawn Henry, FBI Assistant Director. “Over the past year, the malicious activity has become much more prevalent, “ Henry said, adding that the threat is worsening.

Henry didn’t name any nations specifically, but Russia and China have been mentioned by intelligence agencies in the past. And there may be a couple dozen other countries with an “aggressive interest” in private and governmental computer networks.

These new threats make it impossible for individuals to fully protect themselves from identity theft, and increase the need for comprehensive identity theft programs like those offered by Life Lock.

Only LifeLock offers eRecon, a service that continually monitors the Internet for any mention of their clients’ names, Social Security numbers, account numbers, or any other personal or financial information being bought, sold or traded by identity theft criminals.

In their reportage of Henry’s announcements, Reuters detailed some of the new and increasingly sophisticated attack strategies:

Botnets: viruses spread malicious software—“malware”—through individuals’ or companies’ networks. By doing so, the perpetrators are able to steal data or entirely shut down the entire network.

Spearfishing: similar to the more familiar “phishing,” only in this method hackers access the companies’ email list to send out information requests that look official.

Pump and dump: criminals penetrate several investment companies’ client accounts; manipulate stock prices upward, only to get rid of them at their peak, causing values to plummet.

Henry went on to assure reporters that pump and dump activities was not to blame for the current Wall Street crises, but have caused tens of millions of dollars in losses.

Since its start in 2000, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has received over a million complaints. The Center now receives approximately 20,000 complaints every month, Henry said.