Cybercrime is a term that is used to refer to criminal activities involving the use of computers or computer networks as tools, target, or places of criminal offenses. This type of crime incorporates electronic cracking, denial of service attacks, and traditional offenses where computers and computer networks are used for conducting illegal and illicit activities. Throughout the world, cybercrime has been reported as amongst the most significant and widely used revenue sectors for global organized crime. This type of criminal activity is primarily divided into two main sides i.e. The generation side and the victimization side. In the context of national security, cybercrime involves traditional espionage, hacktivism, and/or information warfare and related activities.
In the past 10 years, cybercrime has emerged as a serious security threat across the globe because of its nature and the environment in which it's conducted. The predominance of this type of crime has resulted in various initiatives by governments across the world, police departments, and intelligence units to combat it. Cybercrime has contributed to the increase in crime rates in the past decade because the world of Internet has become a parallel form of lifestyle. The Internet is rapidly developing into a lifestyle for millions of people as they become dependent and reliant on the use of computer machines since they enable people to conduct things that could be impossible to do without the Internet.
Consequently, the Internet has opened up new opportunities for cyber criminals and emerging criminals to use the online environment on the basis that law enforcement agencies and personnel struggle to function effectively in the online environment or world ("Cyber Crime Strategy," 2010). The other reason for the contribution of this type of crime to the increase in overall crime rates is the fact that cyber criminals can carry out their activities from any location across the globe. As a result, these offenders continue to target large number of people or business across foreign boundaries resulting in increased crime. Since cybercrime is not limited by geographical boundaries, it results in various challenges such as the scale and volume of the offenses and technical difficulties in identifying the criminals.
Cybercrime has continued to increase in the past few years due to stealth techniques that have enable cyber offenders to conduct their activities without fear of timely identification, capture, and successful prosecution ("Cyber Crime: A Clear and Present Danger," 2010). In attempts to combat this evolving criminal offense, one of the most suitable techniques involves shifting from the primarily security-based approach to a more risk-based security approach. While the security-based approach is effective in blocking what is coming into the online environment, it can be achieved through less expensive and more selective technique.
A risk-based approach involves evaluation and identification of data that leaves the online or cyber environment. Consequently, the approach can detect activities through mechanisms and technologies that imitate, exploit, or attached on the access of authorized users. Some of the relevant items in the risk-based approach include personally identifiable information, user credentials, vulnerability details, and financial information or data. The technique can also help enterprises to move from developing great walls against threats to detecting and tackling the most significant ones.
You’re 79% through this paper. Sign up to read the full paper.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.