Computer Crime and Security Measures Week 5 cont.

Computer Crime Computers make activities easier including illegal activities New ways to commit old crimes Crimes against businesses - insiders and outsiders hackers, competitors, criminal gangs

Crime Computers make crimes easier to commit more devastating harder to detect doable from long distances

New Terms Virus Worm Trojan Horse Trap Door

Fraud and Embezzlement Embezzlement - fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom it has been entrusted Requires special knowledge special programming skill poor security

Fraud and Embezzlement Aided by anonymity complexities of modern transactions increase the opportunities Packet sniffers

Defending Against Dishonest Employees Rotate responsibilities of employees with access to sensitive systems Unique ID and password Limit access to system Audit trails Screening and background checks of employees Good security policies, whatever that is

Defending Against Fraud Immediate checks on legitimate credit/debit cards Programs to detect unusual spending Holograms and photos on cards Magnetic or digital finger printing Physical hardware deterrents

Why is the Problem so Big? Most customers do not want to verify ID Most merchants don’t check Security vs convenience

Sabotage and Information Theft Unhappy employees Attacks by competitors Who else?

Nonmalicious Hacking No harm is done Service - exposes security weaknesses Help create need for tougher security Information wants to be free Some companies are ripping us off

Harmless? Time and effort are involved in tracking down the intruder and shut off means of access Verifications of no damage Uncertainty that system is preserved Trespassing is illegal

Mechanisms of Protection Password protection

Internet Medium for researchers open access ease of use ease of sharing Security depended on trust Attitudes about security have not caught up with the risk

Improving Security Awareness of extent of problem Education of users Acceptance of responsibility

Internet Protection Firewall

Crime Laws Computer technology challenged existing laws and led to new ones Larceny Use of computer time New laws Access and use of computer without authorization is illegal