Question

In: Computer Science

Why are computer crimes difficult and time-consuming to investigate? What challenges do prosecutors face and how...

Why are computer crimes difficult and time-consuming to investigate? What challenges do prosecutors face and how do these challenges impact their ability to gain convictions? Do the punishments that are handed down fit the crimes? Lastly, are current computer crime statutes keeping pace with new technologies?

Solutions

Expert Solution

Cybercrimes are indeed very difficult and time-consuming to solve since most people have no understanding where and how to report cybercrime, and rarely do anything about it. Because most crimes on the Internet are not recorded, reliable data and facts are difficult to obtain. And if an investigation is underway, it sometimes takes too long to complete because of the difficulties of identifying and correlating the relevant details and then transmitting the result to the respondents.

Obstacles to cybercrime investigations that impact the ability of prosecutors

There are many hurdles that can be faced during cybercrime investigations. One such challenge seems to be the anonymity that information technology offers to consumers. Anonymity allows individuals to participate in behaviours without exposing themselves and/or their acts to others. There are a variety of anonymization methods that cyber attackers use. One of these methods is the use of proxy servers. A proxy server seems to be an intermediary server used to link a user to a server from which the user requests the services. Unverified proxy servers cover user identity details by concealing their IP address and replacing it with a unique IP address. Cybercriminals may also use anonymity channels to encode traffic and mask IP addresses in an attempt to conceal their web activity and locations. These anonymity channels not only hide users' identities but also manage their websites through 'hidden utilities' capabilities, which ensures that these websites can only be accessed by cyber attackers.

Jurisdiction is another obstacle to the investigation of cybercrime. Most of the time, the individual committing the crime is based outside the nation or at least outside the jurisdiction and prosecutors pursuing the conviction. It's hard enough to effectively prosecute cybercriminals if they come from the same region as the victim, but almost impossible if they both live in different places. Many times prosecutors have successfully gathered good legal proof and even confirmed the identities of cybercriminals, but they have no legal authority to arrest the offender. Therefore, it is very challenging and time-consuming for prosecutors to investigate computer crimes and identify the correct cyber-criminal. Hence, we can say that these obstacles definitely impact the abilities of prosecutors.  

Do Punishments Fit the Cybercrime?

In the context of the absolute impunity with which cybercriminals usually operate, it can easily be argued that both national and international law enforcement authorities are not well prepared to combat the rapidly growing tide of cybercrime. Cybersecurity and law enforcement authorities have increasingly strengthened their ability to cope with cybercrime, primarily as a result of enhanced training and applying 'non-traditional,' often controversial methods and techniques to an expanding threat environment. The needed extent of punishment is still lacking. The challenge of inconsistent national and regional laws and procedures on cybercrime investigations, data retention, security, and privacy is severe, but until these problems are addressed and they will continue to suppress national and international law enforcement efforts.

Computer crimes continuously increasing with new technologies

Based on the previous 10 years of analysis, It can be easily concluded that cybercrimes are continuously increasing with the new technology. Cybercriminals easily find new methods to attack an individual or an organization with emerging digital tools and technologies. Current legal authorities do not have proper law enforcement for new or upcoming tools and technologies. That is why Cyber criminals always find a new way to attack people because a new approach helps them to hide their identities.


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