Fighting the Good Fight The Battle Against Cybercrime Term Paper

SummaryThe proliferation of computer-based technologies over the past half century has changed the world in fundamental ways. In sharp contrast to just a few decades ago, computer-based technologies have transformed the ways in which people live, work, recreate, shop and receive an education and current signs indicate that this digital transformation continues apace. These same trends, though, have also introduced countless new opportunities that can be exploited for illegal purposes by cyber criminals. The purpose of this paper is to examine the rising threat of cybercrimes and the increased use of technology in modern society to show how these types of crimes will continue to increase in frequency, scope and severity in the future unless appropriate, integrated security precautions are taken today. The research will show that although the precise costs of cybercrimes remain unclear, some estimates place these costs as high as $1 trillion annually, and these estimates may not be including all of the costs that are associated with cybercrimes at present. Finally, following the review of the relevant literature, a summary of the research and key findings concerning the foregoing issues are presented in the papers conclusion.Cybercrimes and the Increased Use of Technology in SocietyToday, some of the most serious crimes were not even illegal a few years ago because they involve computer-based technologies that did not exist. The situation at present, however, is characterized by the proliferation of a bewildering array of computer-based technologies in virtually every aspect of modern human life. Moreover, current trends indicate that this ubiquity will continue to increase well into the foreseeable future. Against this backdrop, it is not surprising that nefarious actors are also exploiting these trends by engaging in various cybercriminal activities that defy easy detection and prevention. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the relevant literature concerning cybercrimes and the increased use of technology in modern society to demonstrate that these types of crimes will continue to increase in frequency, scope and severity unless and until substantive actions are taken at the international level to combat cybercrimes. Following this review, a summary of the research and important findings concerning the current state of knowledge about cybercrimes and the increased use of technology in society are presented in the conclusion.Review and DiscussionThe world has become an increasingly interconnected place where computers facilitate global communications in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago (Sarre, Lau & Chang, 2018). Indeed, the emergence of the so-called Internet of Things has made it possible for cybercriminals to gain access to consumers homes and even their kitchen appliances. In this regard, Stalans and Finn (2018) report that, The permeating presence of information technology and cyberspace in the connection of things such as cars, phones, home security, and home temperature controls and its role as critical infrastructure for societal institutions highlights the potential serious harmful effects of cybercrime (p. 501).Further, a veritable cornucopia of Internet-enabled digital devices has transformed the manner in which people socialize, recreate, shop, keep informed about important events in their lives, earn a living and receive an education (Bossler & Berenblum, 2019). In addition, governments and business of all sizes and types have applied computer-based applications to many aspects of their operations to the point where they are absolutely mission critical. In sum, the world has become a highly interconnected place where digital technologies make modern civilization possible.While these innovations in computer-based technologies have fundamentally changed the world for the better, there is a corresponding downside to these trends in the form of increased opportunities for cybercriminal activities. In this regard, Bossler and Berenblum…

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…some far more sinister outcomes that are possible as well given the current trajectory of cybercrime trends. The potential for state-sponsored and non-state actors attacks the nations critical infrastructure has intensified in recent years, and the fact that the United States and its allies have not suffered another 9/11-level attack to date should not lull anyone into a false sense of security because there are untold numbers of nefarious actors on the global stage, just waiting for the perfect chance to attack yet again.ConclusionEven as the world struggles to cope with an ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and economic downturn, cybercriminals of all ilk are masterminding new ways to defeat existing security measures in ways that harm their victims. The research was consistent in showing that virtually anyone can be victimized by cybercrimes, but businesses and governments represents the most lucrative targets, especially for state-sponsored actors that seek to leverage asymmetrical cyber warfare tactics to gain an advantage over countries such as the United States and its Western allies. The studies reviewed were also consistent in stressing the need for a coordinated, multinational response to the growing threat of cybercrimes, but there was also a general consensus that forging and maintaining viable security relationships with other countries and private sector actors was a daunting enterprise that demands additional scholarship. Like traditional crime, cybercrime will never be actually solved, so security specialists, software engineers and national lawmakers must remain vigilant to discover new types of cyber threats as well as novel uses of existing cybercrime strategies for the foreseeable future. In the final analysis, it is reasonable to conclude that security specialists a century ago could not conceptualize the types of cyber threats that are increasingly commonplace today, so it is also likely that an even greater threat will emerge in the future that…