Hacktivism Securing the Electronic Frontier Consider How

Hacktivism

Securing the Electronic Frontier

Consider how cybercrime is defined and how it relates to the issue Internet vulnerabilities.

Cybercrime is any illegal or illicit activity which is mediated by internet usage and which is aimed at accessing, stealing or destroying online data. This may include hacking of government websites, phishing scams, disruption of commercial service sites or penetration of privately held databases containing personal information about private citizens. The presentation given by Hypponen (2011) at a recent TED conference helps to underscore the vulnerabilities to which the Internet exposes us, indicating that both our privacy and our financial security are at risk on the web. Cybercrime presents an ongoing challenge to database hosting services, commercial entities, political organizations and government agencies, all of which must find a balance between creating user-friendly, accessible web experiences and establishing fortified defenses against potential breaches of privacy, security or stability.

2. What are trespass, unauthorized access, and hacktivism? How does Lessig's framework apply?

Cybercrime comes in many forms, some financially motivated, some ideologically driven and others committed largely for the satisfaction of doing something subversive. Trespass involves gaining access to a computer or computer network that is otherwise restricted with the intent of dismantling, removing or stealing data. Unauthorized access is the penetration of administrative pages, databases or other sensitive data. Hacktivism is the politically motivated use of cybercrime to further certain ideological goals. As the third of these, the text by Goel (2011) indicates that "Sociopolitical groups (operating in- dependently or under tacit patronage from national governments) are anoth- er potent cyberthreat, with large social followings used for both propaganda and attacks." (Goel, p. 134)

The relevance of Lessig's framework is that it helps us to thing of the rules and parameters of web usage and vulnerability in completely objective terms. According to Lessig's framework, interaction on the web is governed by four dimensions: law, social norms, market regulation and code. It is the last of these which provides the basic architecture determining that which is possible and that which is not. According to the Lessig framework, "these programs are often referred to as the 'architectures of cyberspace.' Code, for examples, limits access to certain Web sites by demanding a username and password. Cookie technology enables e-commerce, but compromises the consumer's privacy. Sophisticated software is deployed to filter out unsolicited commercial e-mail (or spam). In the long run, code may be more effetive than law in containing spam, which rankles many users." (Spinello 2001, p. 4)

3. How would you build "layers of defense" to help protect and defend against cyber risks?

The response above denotes that the key to protecting against cybercrime is a combination of legal regulation and, more importantly, innovative security solutions that use code to remain a step ahead of savvy hackers. Indeed, while comprehensive legal protections are a clear necessity, cybercrime will always be an intellectual battle. Cybercriminals and cyber-security experts are in a constant volley to remain in control of the framework that Lessig describes above. The true key to improving online security is pouring investment and energy into more airtight security coding.