The growing danger of cyber crime also called computer crime by way of stealing, denying access to, or destroying valuable information on computers, there is constant fear and vulnerability to every computer and its user. It won’t be long before each one of us or our love ones becomes victim of potential cybercrimes that include identity theft, hacking, phishing, stalking. It has really become a nemesis for all of us.
With existing laws remain unenforceable against such crimes and perpetrators work overtime with impunity to criminally exploit the 21st century’s economic driver. The lack of real effective legal protection means that businesses and individuals must rely solely on technical measures to protect themselves from cybercrimes and cybercriminals. Self-protection, while essential, is not sufficient.
The rule of law must also be enforced. Nations should enact new laws, countries having relevant laws should examine whether they are sufficient to combat cyber crimes. Those who are not quite developed should draw on best practices from other countries and work closely with industry to enact enforceable legal protections against this new threat. As challenges are undisputedly global in nature, nations should work together to achieve a shared vision on this important issue.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), USA, “we lead the national effort to investigate high-tech crimes, including cyber-based terrorism, computer intrusions, online sexual exploitation, and major cyber frauds. To stay in front of emerging trends, we gather and share information and intelligence with public and private sector partner’s worldwide.”
The FBI is helping law enforcement to take a new outlook on the way law enforcement will handle cybercriminals.
Undeterred by the prospect of arrest or prosecution, cyber criminals around the world pose lethal danger to the financial health of businesses, and threat to nations’ security. News headlines of cyber attacks and security breaches in this decade have gone up many folds, and countless instances around the world remain unreported.
Many countries do not have laws against cybercrimes. Even in countries that have the existing laws against these cyber related wrong doings, effective law enforcement is not feasible due to transnational nature of cybercrimes.
Cyber criminals can stealthily overcome the conventional jurisdiction and legal realms of sovereign nations, originating an attack from almost any computer in the world, passing it across multiple national boundaries that dramatically increase both the technical and legal complexities of investigating and prosecuting cyber crimes.
Mechanisms of cooperation across national borders to solve and prosecute crimes are complex and awfully slow albeit, it is desirable to have an approach, whereby nations, governments, industry, and the public at large workout to devise enforceable stringent laws that will effectively deter the most determined cyber criminals.
These trusted relationships, coupled with intelligence and robust security can have long lasting impact on the emerging digital economy, apart from it will make the world a better place to live and work with immense pleasure.