Book Review of Cybercrime – The Reality of the Threat

Abstract

If you're looking for introductory text on what cyber crime is, then this is one! But don't expect and in-depth academic text. This self-published book is very much a book for operational practitioner. An easy to read text that provides a broad overview relating to Federal Agent Nigel Phair’s experience whilst working at Australian High Tech Crime Centre in Canberra and as a member of Australian Federal Police. Some comments may seem to appear rather glib, along with several assumptions, but don't be put off; book has merit and Phair provides a good insight for newcomer wishing to learn about domain of cyber crime. introduction, I presume in an effort to allay our fears, states The Internet is not of Wild West, as was once portrayed in American Western movies. It is just another public place and Internet users need to use real-world sensibilities when operating in online environment. Phew, thank goodness for that! But his statement is quickly followed by a darker one of impending doom; the communities trusting e-commerce activities, will slowly erode over time as personal users either become victims of online crime or know someone who has. He then briefly mentions ‘the profile of cyber crime criminals’ and how hacking counterculture has completely changed into wellorganized and hierarchical groups of criminal syndicates that have realized there is substantial money to be made by criminal activity online. A geographical overview of cyber crime elements are presented as only real risk from Eastern Europe, Asia and West Africa. This is just too brief. His Eastern European perspective focuses only on Russian Mafia and one incident involving a Romanian National. Asia, primarily relates to issues in China, although Singapore and Korea do get a mention. West Africa, primarily focuses on Nigeria and Kenya; with activity relating to infamous Nigerian letters. rest of book addresses cyber crime activities under broad headings of: o Unwanted Software; o Identity Crime; o Phishing;