Essay on Social Control of Cyber Space

As technology is used worldwide, it is in no way hard to get your hands on, or learn how to use computers etc. One of the most significant problems with cybercrime is it’s secretive nature; many protection devices which can be cracked will not pick up that they have been, therefore the majority of cybercrime will go unnoticed for a substantial amount of time. Combined with the world wide web, hackers can use the computers to gain information from any organisation around the world, penetrating even the most impenetrable organisations to get what they want, highlighting how technology has led to the process of globalization within the criminal world.

Based on Dauphin County First Assistant District Attorney Fran Chardo, “We become a very electronic-oriented society.” (Marc Goodman). With this increase usage of electronic, we see a new set of criminals and crimes. With the cellular telephone, criminals use it, not only to communicate with one another, but also to target people and as a triggering device. For example, if the criminals are searching for someone they can text each other with the description of a person and then upon verification proceed with an order, possible death. With this same cellular telephone technology, law enforcement can use someone’s cellular telephone to track their movements or identify their location to help with investigations. The new set of crimes is cybercrimes. A cybercrime is any crime that involves the use of computer or the manipulation of digital data. Zackary J. Miller, section Chief of the FBI’s Cyber Criminal Division stated, “I think there is a growing cybercrime problem that we are continuing to chase a bit behind the curve… bank robbery and fraud are all facilitated by the internet.” (Bernice Young, 2011). There are five types of computer crimes: (1). internal computer crimes, such as viruses; (2). internet and telecommunication, which is hacking; (3). criminal enterprises, databases supporting drug distribution; (4). computer manipulation, embezzlement; and (5). hardware, software, and information theft. (Schmalleger,

In the United States, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including FBI, Department of Homeland Security, among others, have taken on roles to fight computer crimes and terrorism. The roles and responses of these law enforcement agencies concerning digital crime have created challenges that limit enforcement efforts against digital crime.

Times have changed what was known as organized crime has been replaced by Cybercrimes (Heists: Cybercrimes with Ben Hammersley). Cybercrimes have risen dramatically in recent years and have become a major issue the United States and company’s face today jeopardizing as well as threatening the critical infrastructure of America (Cyberwar Threat, 2005). Sadly, the status quo of cyber security is very unstable with the advancements and growth which has put most individuals and businesses into an enormous threat (Agustina, 2015).

The creation go of the Internet has helped spawn new forms of criminals and crimes, and has always helped make older criminal schemes easier to execute, identity theft, child pornography, copyright violations, hacking and you could go on and on. In a 2003 survey conducted by the CSI with the participation of the San Francisco Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Computer Intrusion Squad, of the 530 respondents made up of U.S. corporations, government agencies, financial institutions, medical institutions and universities, 56% reported unauthorized use of their computer systems (2003 CSI/FBI Computer Crime and Security Survey).

The fourth spoke on the wheel of terrorism is “computer crime”. The use of computers can be used in a good way or can also be abused. Cyberattacks are a huge threat to our national security and technological infrastructure.

With the constant changes in society and advances in technology, it is no surprise that new types of crime have started to emerge. Such as terrorism, white-collar crime, green crime, cyber-crime, and organized crime. Often times these crimes tend to overlap because technology is such a huge factor

When you begin to examine how the internet and crime are related, you must first examine exactly what the internet is and how it works. The internet is a global system of computers and networks that are interconnected and service billions of users at any given time. This could be considered a cybercriminals’ playground. Because billions of computers are connected via a vast array of private and public networks including many government agencies, it is easy to see how a cybercriminal could obtain valuable information or unleash denial of service attacks that could cripple many of these systems.

With the widespread use of technology becoming more prominent, acts of cyber terrorism pose an increased threat to safety. Cyber terrorists exploit the internet and its users to commit acts that can be increasingly detrimental to their targets. Some of the terrorist activities include large scale corruption of computer networks by using tools like computer viruses. Certain individuals even have the ability of creating severe damage to government systems, national security systems and even hospital servers. Most of the technology made today only has intentions of making life easier for people. However, skilled users can manipulate the cyber world for negative intentions. Staying informed when it comes to cyber terrorism and cybercrime is important to do because of the increased reliance on technology in society. Steps to improve cyber security before an attack ensures the safety of sensitive information. The topic of cyber security and cyber warfare are interesting topics to keep up to date with. Understanding these topics can be beneficial to my dream of being in the FBI, ensuring the safety of others by working to prevent acts of cyberterrorism.

New types of Internet-related crimes have emerged. threats to individuals, also called personal cyber-crime, is to illegally obtain the identity of electronic individuals, such as their e-mail and password, and also extend to e-impersonation. For example, dragging images and important files from the victim's device to threaten them and subject them to orders. Also, threat to Property This type of crime targets government, private and personal entities. For instance, destruction of important files or proprietary software, through malicious programs transmitted to the user's device in several ways, notably e-mails. Likewise, there are threats that target governments - hacker attacks on official government websites and network systems. To eliminate or destroy the infrastructure of the site or network system, these attacks are often politically targeted.in addition to that, Political threats that focus on targeting the military positions of some countries to steal information related to state security. To emphasize, Spyware by sending programs to the computer to obtain confidential military

Cyberterrorism is the utilization of PC system instruments to hurt or close down basic national bases, e.g. transportation and government operations. The reason of cyberterrorism is that as countries and basic base turned out to be more subject to PC systems for their operation, new vulnerabilities are made. Cyberterrorism is an alluring alternative for cutting edge terrorists, who esteem its secrecy, its capability to exact gigantic harm, its mental effect, and its media offer. The risk postured by cyberterrorism has gotten the consideration of the broad communications, the security group, and the data innovation (IT) industry. Columnists, lawmakers, and specialists in an assortment of fields have promoted a situation in which complex digital terrorists electronically break into PCs that control dams or aviation authority frameworks, wreaking devastation and jeopardizing a large number of lives as well as national security itself. But, in spite of all the bleak forecasts of a digital produced doomsday, no single occurrence of genuine cyberterrorism has been recorded (Verton 129).

The advancement of computer technology and networking has rapidly expanded communications but as we progress with the wage of the new world technology comes with it own costs. The same technology that provides useful services can be used against its users and benefit computer terrorist to get our information, take our identity and preview our personal lives without many of us knowing what has happened until it is too late. Continuous advancing technology provides criminals and terrorists with a variety of new tools and opportunities to conduct their agendas against current technology.

Cyber terrorists exist today. The Osama bin Laden Crew (OLB Crew) is a group of self-proclaimed cyber jihadists. This group is reported to have been founded in 2000 by Abdullah Quraischi, an al Qaeda member living in Europe. The group’s activities have consisted of the creation of dozens of Web sites and forums that provide information on gun making, explosives manuals, as well as large-scale recruitment promotions and propaganda (AntiTerrorism Coalition, 2005). Remember, the overarching concept about cyber terrorism emerges where terrorism meets cyberspace. As previously stated, this takes the form of facilitating the underlying communications and control infrastructure of terrorist organizations, and also includes the dissemination of a group’s activities, as well as the facilitation of knowledge exchange. But this is only the beginning in understanding what a cyber terrorist does (i.e., reported and unreported), and may yet still do.

Cyberterrorism is also clearly an emerging threat. Terrorist groups are increasingly computer savvy, and some probably are acquiring the ability to use cyber attacks to inflict isolated and brief disruptions of US infrastructure. Due to the prevalence of publicly available hacker tools, many of these groups probably already have the capability to launch denial-of-service and other nuisance attacks against Internet-connected systems. As terrorists become more computer savvy, their attack options will only increase.” (War on Terrorism, 2003)

According to Furnell and Warren (1999), Evidence suggests that technology is growingly seen as a potential tool for terrorist organizations and the widespread use of information technology by terrorist groups and organizations has led to the birth of a new class of menace termed “Cyberterrorism”. Cyberterrorism could be used in many diverse ways. Sometimes, a country’s pivotal infrastructures could be shut down and harmed using computer network and tools. There have been impediments in trying to give a clear and concise definition to the term “cyberterrorism”. But Denning (2007) which supersedes Denning (2000) gives an unambiguous definition to cyberterrorism: