Cybercrime Vs Traditional Crime Essay

CYBERCRIME

THE UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES

STUDENT ID: 53759

In what ways do you think cybercrime is different from conventional crime?

Wide spread globalization and the great technological advancements over the past decades have left society viable to cyber-attacks. Cybercrimes are crimes conducted through the use of computers and the internet. However to date one of the greatest debates in society is; if cybercrime differ from conventional or traditional crimes.

Just as traditional crime cybercrime also involves, violence, theft, fraud, pornography and other illegal activities. However as it relates to cybercrime physical violence cannot be accomplished however harmful virus attacks can be launched at particular individuals or organizations. Individuals can also face cyber bullying in which the physiological effects can be just as bad or even worse than the psychological effects on may face after being mugged or beaten. Traditional crimes have alerted society to a point where they are aware that they need to lock their doors when leaving home or ensure that their bank card pins are never exposed to anyone however due to the increased use of the internet and the lack of adequate web or

browsing protection personal banking information can be hacked leaving card numbers and pins exposed. This can result in cyber espionage and identity theft. When one thinks of terrorism we often relate that to physical acts of crime for political or religious gains however acts of cyber terrorism has been on the rise. Acts of cyber war has been on the increase within the last decade. A Cyberterrorist can remotely alter the formulas of medication at pharmaceutical manufacturers once their systems are online or even hack nuclear facilities like in the case of Stuxnet. According to (Rohozinski, 28 Jan 2011), ?German expert Ralph Lagner describes Stuxnet as a military-grade cyber missile that was used to launch an ?all-out cyber strike against the Iranian nuclear program?.

Cybercrimes differ from traditional crimes because unlike traditional crimes cybercrimes do not involve criminals being personally at the point of attack thus giving them higher anonymity and making it more difficult for law enforcement to apprehend criminals.

Cyber terrorist also have a greater advantage as they are able to attack governments without an army of their own causing just as much damage. Technology gives cyber criminals the leverage of committing crimes that would normally be out of their physical range and abilities. According to (Wall, 2007), ?Perhaps the most profound transformation has been the power that the internet places in the hands of a single person, often referred to as ?empowered single or small agent? (see Rathmel

1998)?

References
Rohozinski, J. P. (28 Jan 2011). Stuxnet and the Future of Cyber War. 24-25.
Wall, D. S. (2007). Cyber Crime. In D. S. Wall, The Transformation of Crime in the Information Age (pp. 39-40). Polity Press.