Cyber Crime Essay Example

Broadly speaking, the internet needs no introduction. Its far-reaching effects on human society are too numerable to be simply calculated. However, the internet is a neutral power. It is responsible for many successes and, on the other hand, much destruction. As our society increasingly becomes reliant and integrated with technology and the internet, an uncomfortable truth lingers unaddressed – how will we remain safe in the face of malicious actors? There are those who advocate for a truly free and decentralized internet, but they are misguided or ignorant regarding the currently latent destructive power of the internet. Make no mistake, the internet is already a weapon; it has far passed the point of no return in that regard. To secure our future digital safety, more resources must be allocated to the development of proprietary cyber security tools along with the strengthening of international ties and cyber laws.

Incidents of malicious cybercrimes are on the rise faster than ever before with no reason to believe they will slow down. In The Unites States of America alone, the total reported loss of money from cybercrimes increased from $4.2 billion dollars to $6.9 billion dollars from 2020 to 2021 alone, making yet another year a concerning continuation of the last five year upward trend (Internet Crime Complaint Center 7). Furthermore, there are more state-sponsored hackings than ever before, with a North Korean backed hacking group named Lazarus pilfering over 625 million US dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency in April of 2022 (Page). These concerning trends in cybercrime are more than statistics to be brushed off; they are calls to action. The United States of America, as the Western leader of advanced technology, needs to commit more resources and more talent towards the expansion and creation of advanced cybersecurity tools to combat a grim future. 

Just because cybercrimes are often committed across borders does not mean efforts are not expended on apprehending the perpetrators. However, pursuing competent cybercriminals is almost always an international affair, with jurisdictional bureaucracy never failing to slow down what is a time essential chase (McDonough 2). Some countries like Russia are suspected of offering amnesty to their domestic cybercriminals on the grounds of various ridiculous assertions regarding the sovereignty of their cyberspace (Yapp). It has become grossly apparent that the international and geopolitical tools at our dispense are inadequate for pursuing many active cybercriminal organizations. To solve this problem, the United States of America needs to be an active participant and supporter of a new global standard for pursuing cybercriminals; a standard that will allow international and domestic authorities the access and tools they need to do their jobs without burdensome bureaucracy.

Due to the incredibly complex nature of not only the internet but also litigating cybercrime, a plethora of ideas on how to combat this surge of cybercrime are being proposed. They range from ideas of self-governance and decentralization to the advocation of a completely locked down internet. The internet, for the primary length of its existence, has been largely left to its own devices, and regulators only acting reactively to issues arising from the internet did the world no favors. There are those that propose we leave the internet as it is today: decentralized and untamed. They are mistaken regarding the affect that will have. The internet needs more regulation and more oversight in the growing digital age. The history of the internet, and its reluctance to change, are shown plainly through the multitudinous examples we have of people wielding it for abuse. Passivity will not change the way people use the internet; it will only continue the worsening path we see today. Therefore, more aggressive stewardship and collaboration therein are indispensable necessities for us to save the future of the internet from being wielded as a tool for destruction. 

To succinctly summarize, the World Wide Web is heading towards a dark future; a future of weaponized abuse. Regulators can not continue to leave the internet so derelict from regulations, and two primary things need to change: the quantity of resources we allot for cybersecurity development and the way the world handles international cybercrime investigations and litigation. The internet is an inherent catalyst for change with the potential for that change to be either positive or negative. Let us heed our premonitory present to achieve a better future.