Computer Crime

Computer Crime


by: Manik Saini


Advances in telecommunications and in computer technology have brought us to the

information revolution.  The rapid advancement of the telephone, cable,

satellite and computer networks, combined with the help of technological

breakthroughs in computer processing speed, and information storage, has lead us

to the latest revolution, and also the newest style of crime, "computer crime".

The following information will provide you with evidence that without reasonable

doubt, computer crime is on the increase in the following areas: hackers,

hardware theft, software piracy and the information highway.  This information

is gathered from expert sources such as researchers, journalists, and others

involved in the field.


Computer crimes are often heard a lot about in the news.  When you ask someone

why he/she robbed banks, they world replied, "Because that's where the money

is."  Today's criminals have learned where the money is.  Instead of settling

for a few thousand dollars in a bank robbery, those with enough computer

knowledge can walk away from a computer crime with many millions.  The National

Computer Crimes Squad estimates that between 85 and 97 percent of computer

crimes are not even detected. Fewer than 10 percent of all computer crimes are

reported this is mainly because organizations fear that their employees, clients,

and stockholders will lose faith in them if they admit that their computers have

been attacked. And few of the crimes that are reported are ever solved.


Hacking was once a term that was used to describe someone with a great deal of

knowledge with computers.  Since then the definition has seriously changed.  In

every neighborhood there are criminals, so you could say that hackers are the

criminals of the computers around us.  There has been a great increase in the

number of computer break-ins since the Internet became popular.


How serious is hacking?  In 1989, the Computer Emergency Response Team, a

organization that monitors computer security issues in North America said that

they had 132 cases involving computer break-ins.  In 1994 alone they had some

2,341 cases, that's almost an 1800% increase in just 5 years.  An example is 31

year old computer expert Kevin Mitnick that was arrested by the FBI for stealing

more then $1 million worth in data and about 20,000 credit card numbers through

the Internet.  In Vancouver, the RCMP have arrested a teenager with breaking

into a university computer network.  There have been many cases of computer

hacking, another one took place here in Toronto, when Adam Shiffman was charged

with nine counts of fraudulent use of computers and eleven counts of mischief to

data, this all carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail.


We see after reading the above information that hacking has been on the increase.

 With hundreds of cases every year dealing with hacking this is surely a problem,

and a problem that is increasing very quickly.


Ten years ago hardware theft was almost impossible, this was because of the size

and weight of the computer components.  Also computer components were expensive

so many companies would have security guards to protect them from theft.  Today

this is no longer the case, computer hardware theft is on the increase.


Since the invention of the microchip, computers have become much smaller and

easier to steal, and now even with portable and lap top computers that fit in

you briefcase it's even easier.   While illegal high-tech information hacking

gets all the attention, it's the computer hardware theft that has become the

latest in corporate crime.  Access to valuable equipment skyrockets and black-

market demand for parts increases.  In factories, components are stolen from

assembly lines for underground resale to distributors. In offices, entire

systems are snatched from desktops by individuals seeking to install a home PC.

In 1994, Santa Clara, Calif., recorded 51 burglaries.  That number doubled in

just the first six months of 1995.  Gunmen robbed workers at Irv
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