By Dr AbdelGadir Warsama, Legal Counsel
All crimes cause great risks, however cybercrimes cause more great risks as stated by many GOVs, CEOs & executives. Cybercrimes are new crimes, that took their shape and came up as a consequential result of the new IT era. Unfortunately, this new type of crimes and criminals came-up due to IT misuse coupled with criminal intention from greedy “white-collar” sophisticated criminals. Loses of cybercrimes are unlimited and statistics reveal that it could be over multi billion dollars and the march is going around the clock in all corners. No doubt, the effect of this is very grave and harmful to economic and social development of all indiscriminately. Cybercrimes may threaten persons, companies or national security and, moreover, financial assets by many means as hacking, identity theft, copyright infringement, child pornography, trespassing, fraud, phishing and other IT crimes.
In criminology lessons we have learned that, “the change in the offence requires a change in the defense”. Cybercrimes are new different offences as the “corps deliciti” has changed, as such, there is a real genuine need to change the defense. The criminal “Actus Reus” of e-criminals are maliciously achieved through different IT software programs known as, inter alia, viruses, malwares, Trojans, spywares, hackers, DDoS attacks, spams, SQL injections and many more. They are uncountable and what is unknown in the “Dark Internet” is more and more sensitive. Every day we are victims of new grave dangerous IT e-crimes. The fierce epidemic is already there attaching everywhere without mercy.
There is urgent need to work hard and fast to face cybercrimes as the damages are increasing and very frustrating to all. In this respect, there are drastic steps to be taken by all. In addition to the personal level, there are further steps to be undertaken by Governments and the whole community is required to create water-tight defensive and legal strategy, otherwise the future is at great unwarranted risk due to devil of cybercrimes.
To achieve an effective control on cybercrimes all steps, being small or big, are to be undertaken, well presented and properly implemented. As a rule, we need to know that no place is attack-proof. E-criminals could reach any place anywhere any time, therefore strong technical preventive measures are needed such as firewalls, encryption, re-encryption, frequent security check-ups, employment of cybersecurity experts, etc.
No doubt, IT revolution is strongly needed for an advanced e-future and we need to accommodate and live with its pros and cons. However, strong technical and legislative positions against cybercrimes is a big must. Let’s work tirelessly for this and we can effectively control or minimize e-crimes and defeat the criminal masterminds. Each person, company & State shall be vigilant and take defensive measures to combat cybercrimes and the evil minds behind such e-crimes. Don’t hesitate in facing this new crime, even, if you see them as small because they grow very fast in the dark and come back to attack you and others.