Winter 2011: Password security standards and trendsThe Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA) is a policing agency dedicated to the identification of criminal activity related to drug trafficking, money laundering, identity theft and immigration. SOCA is based in the United Kingdom. While SOCA has been compared to the FBI in the United States, the agency is primarily an intelligence gathering body with a limited mandate for direct apprehension or arrest of criminals. SOCA agents focus upon reducing the considerable harm caused by the operation of organized crime networks within the boundaries of the United Kingdom.
The SOCA was established by the UK Home Office in response to the growth of organized crime within Britain, with losses from identity theft alone estimated to be more than £1.7 billion annually. SOCA is responsible for mitigating the impact of many types of cybercrimes, including DDoS attacks, spear phishing