Essay/Term paper: The future of computer crime in america

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Internet

The Future of Computer Crime in America


Sociology Research Paper
Sociology per. #2
10/8/96

Sociology Topics:
Future Society
Social Change
Social and Enviromental Issues
Deviant Behavior
Crime/Corrections

Name: Brandon Robinson
Period: # 2

The proliferation of home computers, and of home computers equipped with
modems, has brought about a major transformation in the way American society
communicates, interacts, and receives information. All of these changes being
popularized by the media and the wide increased personal and private sector use
of the Internet. All of these factors plus the fact of more and more business
and government institutions are jumping to make the use of these services has
put a much wider range of information at the finger tips of those, often select
and few individuals whom know how to access, understand and use these
information sources. Often times today this information is of a very sensitive
and private nature on anything from IRS Tax returns, to Top Secret NASA payload
launch information. Piled on top of that many times the individuals accessing
these information sources are doing so by illegal means and are often motivated
by deviant and illegal means. It is said that at any given time the average
American has his name on an active file in over 550 computer information
databases of which nearly 90% are online, and of the 550 databases the number
comes no where close to how many time your personal information is listed in
some database in an unactive file. The "Average American" could simply sit in
his/her home doing nearly nothing all day long and still have his/her name go
through over 1,000 computers a day.

All of these vast information files all hold the crucial ones and zero's
of data that make up your life as you and all others know it. All of these data
bits, at the hands 100,000's of people. With little or NO central control or
regulatory agency to oversee the safe handling of your precious little ones and
zero's of information. As it would seem Arson Wells was little late with his
title of "1984" . "BIG BROTHER" is INDEED WATCHING, US ALL and as it would seem
our BIG BROTHER is alot bigger then Mr. Wells could have ever imagined. And that
our BIG BROTHER is EVERYWHERE! The 100,000's of people that do have this
information make up our modern BIG BROTHER in the form of government
institutions to private advertising companies, these people are all the
"trusted" ones who use our information everyday for legal and useful purposes
but what about the others who use their skills and and knowledge to gain their
"own" personal and illegal access to these vast depositories of information?
These individuals popularized and demonized by the media are often referred to
as "Hackers" or "One who obtains unauthorized if not illegal, access to computer
data systems and or networks." or the media definition "maladjusted losers
forming "high-tech street gangs that are dangerous to society" (Chicago Tribune,
1989) Which ever one is best fitted they are indeed becoming a very serious
issue and worry to some in our ever and constantly changing American Techno
Society. Because of the serious delection by our elected representatives whom
have valiantly once again failed to keep up with the ever changing times, there
is if any major or clear and easy to understand "CONSTITUTIONAL" (The recent 3
to 1 over turn of the not only controversial but deemed UNconstituional law
culled the Communications Decency Act") laws as to the governing of the vastly
wild and uncharted realms of cyberspace. The flagrant and serious if not
slightly laughable attempts of our technologically illiterate and ignorant
masses of elected officials. Sends a clear S.O.S. message to the future
generations of America to not only LOCK you PHYSICAL DOORS but also LOCK and
double LOCK all or your COMPUTER DOORS as well. In order for this society to
evolve efficiently with our ever changing technology rate. We as the masses are
going to have to keep abreast with the current events that are lurking out in
the depths of cyberspace. Before we, as a result of our inability to adapt and
our arrogance and ignorance, are all products of our own technological over
indulgence. So to avoid the tragic and ending collision of our own self
manufactured technological self-destruction and the break-down of our society,
in every tangible aspect, as we know of it today.

I believe that in the future we are headed towards you will see our
society divided into Two major parts 1.) Those whom pose the knowledge and
capability to obtain the knowledge/information i.e.. the "LITERATE" and 2.)
Those who don't pose the skills necessary to obtain that crucial
knowledge/information, i.e.. the "ROAD KILL" Because in the future, the power
structure will not be decided by who has the most guns or missiles or weapons
but the powers structure will be made up of little tiny ones and zero's, bits of
data giving to those whom ever poses the power of the knowledge and the power to
manipulate who has that knowledge. The "rich" and "elitist" will be the
knowledge posers and givers and the "poor" will be those with the lack of
knowledge. Knowledge will bring power and wealth and the lack of will
bring.....well the lack of power, wealth and knowledge.

Sources

1.Thesis by Gordon R. Meyer "The Social Organization of the Computer
Underground"

2.2600 Magazine The Hacker Quarterly

3.The Codex Magazine Monthly Security and Technical Update.

4.Secrets of a Super Hacker by the Knightmare

5.Personal Knowledge, Brandon Robinson