Crime and Security Issues in Cyberspace

Abstract

“The most important and urgent problems of the technology of today are no longer the satisfactions of the primary needs or of archetypal wishes, but the reparation of the evils and damages by the technology of yesterday.” The present situation with regard to cyberspace and the development of the Internet and low-cost wireless communication is similar to Thalidomide; a wonder drug, gone bad. As rightly termed as one of the greatest innovation, the computer and the internet, are undoubtedly the first amendment brought to life. But this amendment could not control itself within the limits of safe hands, just like an uncontrolled chain reaction, knowing no restriction. The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had. Life is about a mix of good and evil. So is the Internet. For all the good it does us, cyberspace has its dark sides too. Unlike conventional communities though, there are no policemen patrolling the information superhighway, leaving it open to everything from Trojan horses and viruses to cyber stalking, trademark counterfeiting and cyber terrorism. With the growth of computer technology, the definition of crime is all together changed. A simple click of mouse has given so much power to an anonymous index finger that it can rob millions, crumble a company and even threaten a country’s defence. The evolution of technology has impacted the nature of conflict and war. Amongst the recent aspects of involving in conflict is “no contact war” wherein there is no “physical” or “kinetic” action across borders. There is one important nuance in the treatment of cyberspace as a fifth potential theatre of war along with land, sea, air and space. Born out of the merger of two opposite ends of application of human intelligence cyber (the crest of human intelligence) and crime (the trough of human intelligence) cybercrime is giving sleepless nights to the human race.The threats are endless and presently our laws are toothless.