Criminal profiling and insider cyber crime

Abstract

On a global scale, cyber crime has skyrocketed with the advancement of the electronic medium. While progress is being made in combating cyber crime (particularly with the Council of Europe's Convention on Cyber Crime), a large gap continues to exist in legislative compatibility across international borders. Often overlooked in regard to profiling is cyber crime. The idea that an individual committing crime in cyberspace can fit a certain outline (a profile) may seem far-fetched, but evidence suggests that certain distinguishing characteristics do regularly exist in cyber criminals. This can be particularly useful for companies (the most often hindered victims of cyber crime) attempting to do away with cyber criminals inside their own walls (the most common type of cyber criminals). Whether they are simply breaking company policy by browsing the Internet while on the clock or embezzling thousands of dollars through the company's network, insiders are a very real problem that companies spend millions of dollars annually to prevent. An accurate profile of an inside cyber criminal may help in identification both prospectively and retrospectively.