1. Running head: THE GROWING ISSUE OF CYBERCRIME 1
The Growing Issue of Cybercrime in a Predominately Technological Age
Whitney Bolton
CJUS 400-B01
16 October 2015
Liberty University

2. THE GROWING ISSUE OF CYBERCRIME 2
Abstract
The world today relies heavily on the use of electricity and numerous electronics to keep
everything running smoothly. No matter where one goes, there is some sort of technology that has
a drastic impact on life. Whether it be to the grocery store, the movie theatre, or the gas station
most of these places would cease to be able to operate if there were no more access to the
technology they have become dependent. At the same time that the world has become overly
dependent on technology criminals have taken advantage of this situation to use it for their benefit
and to make committing crimes easier for them and in many cases the very people who are victims
can unknowingly make themselves targets simply by not protecting their presence in this
technology based world. As technology evolves and people undoubtedly become increasingly
more, dependent on this technology they will get more and more careless with the important
information. As technology grows and cybercrime because more prevalent then so do the steps
and precautions taken to prevent it.

3. THE GROWING ISSUE OF CYBERCRIME 3
The Growing Issue of Cybercrime in a Predominately Technological Age
Introduction
Today’s society is all about fast pace and advancement. Part of this advancement
mentality includes the constant improvement of technology. Many people’s entire lives revolve
around technology and many times, they do not even realize it. Computer systems practically run
much of the world today from security systems to the computer systems that run most businesses
technology is taking control of the world. In this age of technology cybercrime becomes an
increasingly more concerning issue. The world’s growing dependency on technology also leads
to the world’s vulnerability. Steps are in place to protect against and prevent cybercrime, but
with technology constantly, evolving there is a need for the precautions in place to evolve as
well. Cybercrime includes a wide spectrum of crimes and many times make crimes that have
existed even easier to commit than they ever were before. Cybercrime prevention is important
because in many cases nothing is attempted to stop it until the damage has already been done.
Body
Cybercrime Defined
By definition, cybercrimes are “criminal acts implemented through use of a computer or
other form of electronic communications” (Anderson & Gardner, 2015, pg. 433). Cybercrime
incorporates so many various types of crime. Some are crimes only possible because of the
access of a computer and others were crimes long before computers appeared and technology
simply was another tool to utilize. Crimes like the various forms of fraud and pornography
existed before the technology boom, but with computers and other pieces of technology, these
crimes became easier to commit and many times get away with. As times change and technology

4. THE GROWING ISSUE OF CYBERCRIME 4
evolves cybercrime will continue to grow and incorporate more avenues of crime that will
require the creation of new policies in cybercrime prevention.
Computer Trespass
One of the more popular cybercrimes is the “unlawful access to a computer or computer
system with intent to commit a crime, or unlawful access to a computer or computer system
maintained by a government unit” (Anderson & Gardner, 2015, pg. 433). Computer trespass is
often referred to hacking is something that is often viewed as more of a hobby to those who do it
than a crime. While they may be aware that what they are doing is illegal, they simply enjoy the
challenge of it. In this technology driven world, so many people learn from watching various
television shows. One example as seen on TV is in the episode entitled “Sacrifices” from the first
season of the television show “Arrow” (2013) there is a scene between a character who will
become a main character of the show and a police officer about the criminality of computer
hacking. In this particular scene when asked about alleged hacking abilities the character
described them as a hobby, much as many today view it. The character does not view herself as a
criminal and she definitely does not appear to be criminal, but that does not change the fact that
her actions were illegal.
Fraud
Fraud is the “deceitful means or acts used to cheat a person, corporation, or government
agency” (Anderson & Gardner, 2015, pg. 416). Fraud is one of those crimes that encompasses
many variations and has been around since long before technology. Fraud is one of the many
crimes that technology simply made that much easier to commit. A prime example comes from
the concept of internet banking and just how easy it is now for someone to gain access to
someone else’s information to take what he or she wants from them.

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Wire fraud is “a fraudulent scheme that uses interstate or international wire or other
electronic communications” (Anderson & Gardner, 2015, pg. 550). Cybercrime is categorized
into three stages that “parallel the three stages of data processing: input tampering, throughput
tampering, and output tampering” (Ionescu, Mirea, & Blajan, 2011, pg.375). This simply goes to
show that at any point information can be altered or intercepted there is no point that a
cybercrime will not happen. Despite security messages, there is no real way to guarantee the
security of any information put out on the web from anyone.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is the act of “stealing a real person’s identification information (true name),
or theft based on creating a fictitious person’s identification (synthetic identity)” (Anderson &
Gardner, 2015, pg. 229). Identity theft ties right in with fraud and is made much easier through
the processes of online banking and shopping which leaves personal information vulnerable on
the internet. One article addresses the “underenforcement” of cybercrime (Swire, 2009, pg. 108).
With most cybercrimes, especially identity theft there is nothing that can be done normally until
it is too late. There are is generally no detecting one of these crimes beforehand, cases are
brought forward only after someone’s identity has already been stolen. The lack of prevention is
what causes the biggest problem.
White-Collar Crime
White-collar crime is “a class or type of criminal conduct whose only goal is the
criminal’s economic gain” (Anderson & Gardner, 2015, pg. 416). White-collar crime can tie in
many times with fraud and identity theft when the criminal is trying to take from others for their
own personal gain. White-collar crime spans across continents and is a problem in more than just
the United States. “In China, bank fraud is a serious white collar crime that causes billions of

6. THE GROWING ISSUE OF CYBERCRIME 6
dollars in loss every year, and is considered a criminal offence even punishable by death if the
case involves corruption” (Cheng & Ma, 2009, pg. 166). In America, white-collar crimes do not
constitute a death penalty, but they do result in just as much loss. This like many other crimes is
a big problem because many times no one even realizes what is happening until there is a large
amount of money that is missing.
Stalking
Stalking is “to follow, watch, and bother (someone) constantly in a way that is
frightening, dangerous, etc.” (“stalk,” 2015). This definition seems to go best with the traditional
sense of stalking that involves physically following and harassing another person. Stalking
though has evolved as well with the advancement of technology. The better definition of stalking
that would best apply to the realm of cybercrime would be “to pursue obsessively and to the
point of harassment” (“stalk,” 2015). Social media has made the crime of “cyber-stalking” just
as, if not more, prevalent than the act of physically following someone. At the same time, social
media has also made physical stalking simpler with the ability to track someone through his or
her statuses.
Combatting Cybercrime
As pointed out by Jaishankar (2011) with the introduction of the internet and all the
possibilities presented because of it many criminologists have had to rethink and redefine their
views on crime (pg. xxvii). For all the precautions placed there is really very little that can be
done. The biggest thing is for people in general to be smart about what they put out on the
internet and what information they let get out. Cybercrime encompasses so many various forms
of crime that have long existed before computer access and now these crimes require altered
definitions to include the new ways these crimes can be committed. Combatting cybercrime is

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made especially difficult simply because it can be near impossible to trace many of the crimes
back to the actual offender especially with the overlap of some many crimes coming together to
make another crime possible.
Areas for Improvement
One article points out “the legal aspects are of no use if laws are not properly
implemented, one does not know what is cyber stalking and what to do, when one becomes the
prey of it” (Sen, 2013, pg. 382). This concept applies to every facet of cybercrime not only cyber
stalking. Many people rely so heavily on the internet and other technology in their lives and
when something goes wrong, they do not always even realize that it was illegal. Until there is an
understanding there can only be so much done to try to help with the issue of cybercrime.
Another issue is addressed when it comes to the topic of cyber-attacks and cyberterrorism
through it is difficult because “there is not a consistent international treaty in the regard yet”
(Dang, 2011, pg. 1). If no one can agree on the terms of which constitute cyber-attacks then there
is no hope of being able to agree to the terms to put a stop to it.
Conclusion
All levels of cybercrime tend to overlap. There are many of the crimes that cannot happen
without the other. Almost every cybercrime is going to require some level of computer trespass
and hacking at some point in the process. This is the exact reason that cybercrime is such a
problem in today’s technology based society there is little understanding of what out there is
actually a crime and what is not when it comes to being online. Cybercrime is going to continue
to grow into a bigger and bigger problem over time and if the laws and definitions do not grow
along with the technology advances then there is not going to be anything left that can be done to
prevent cybercrime. Laws and those who make them must be able to evolve along with the

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technology if there is to be any chance of combatting cybercrime before it can get any more out
of control.

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