Following Microsoft’s launch of its new CyberCrime Center, now would be a good time to discuss the need for such a center and why the future of the Internet looks bleak without it and other similar labs.
Simply put, the center is a multidisciplinary task force assigned the unenviable task of providing high-level surveillance against cybercrime or nipping criminal activity in the bud. Security engineers, digital forensics experts, and attorneys are working together to stop alarming trends that include cyber fraud, cyber extortion, and cyber bullying.
Let’s take a look at why this Center was launched and the main reasons why, if left unchecked, cybercrime could threaten the very foundations of the Internet and the widespread communication it has provided us.
1. Temptation. As the years go by, more and more people are on the Internet. Provides a fast and international way of communication. As more people see that they can “hide” behind their device, the greater the temptation to try something criminal. It’s very easy to lie to someone when you don’t see them. This is a recipe for disaster.
2. Trust. The more people have been misled through internet crime, the more likely the average person will start to steer clear. This is not what those who are developing viable technologies want to see. However, as is often the case, a few (but more and more) screw it up for many.
3. Hack-mania. The culture of “hacking” has turned into a competitive nightmare. The so-called “smart” culture has become a race to be the smartest. This does not appear to be abating. Piracy, in many cases, is nothing more than a low-level curiosity.
4. Laws that cannot be updated. The Internet started about 30 years ago. It was the wild west. It’s still the wild west. Technology moved beyond existing laws. Basically, there were no laws for anything like the Internet. Legislators have tried to address this, but when you are left behind, it is very difficult to catch up on this type of game.
5. No deterrence. For example, it may seem like fun to a 12-year-old who is hacking into bank information or stealing money from credit cards. He bikes home from school. He gets on his laptop at home and does his thing. So he steals money from a 6-year-old retired grandmother who lives thousands of miles away and secretly thinks, “Wow, so easy and who’s going to catch me?” reality of his transgression because he lives in a virtual world. Until something is done to force re-entry into a world of reality, it is clear that this type of offense may become the norm rather than the exception. These people have not only taken the livelihoods of others, they have made a complete mess with one of the great discoveries on this planet.
The Internet is a beautiful tool when used correctly. Hopefully, the cybercrime unit can help curb the undesirable activity and we will all have a safe internet experience for a long time to come.