Book Review of Net crimes & misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering webspammers, stalkers and con artists

Abstract

When asking for an example of a criminal, it is fair to assume that few will describe those who commit unlawful acts using the computer. Rather, most will give an instance of violent crimes committed against individuals or crimes involving personal invasion of property. If someone actually used an example of a crime focusing around technology, it is likely they will use an Internet pedophile or a hacker for their illustration. Although an increase of media attention and community awareness has been brought to a few types of Internet crimes, the reality is that the magnitude of this problem is not known to the general public nor how we, computer users, should protect ourselves from potential victimization or obtain help if we become a target of these crimes. “Net crimes and misdemeanors are committed against more than 200,000 a year and the numbers are growing every day” (Hitchcock 2006, 2). With this quantity of victims, computer users need to know how to protect themselves. However, the average computer user is not technologically savvy. J.A. Hitchcock understands the limitations of technical knowledge of the average computer user. Her revised edition of “Net Crimes and Misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering Webspammers, Stalkers and Con Artists” (2006) explains various types of Internet and computer based crimes, and provides definitions and tips applicable to the novice and experienced computer user. One of the nation’s leading authority on cybercrime, Hitchcock has years of experience working with computers and technology. She has taught various college level courses, written for magazines and newspapers, gives lectures, appears