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| Source: Scott Adams, http://www.dilbert.com |
If I were to summarize the speech of an average vendor/speaker at a cyber security conference over the years, it would go something like this...
In the distant Past : "The Internet is dangerous; Our solution fixes the problem"
In the recent Past : "The Internet is dangerous; Our solution might be able to help"
Now: "The Internet is dangerous; ... ... good luck!"
The fact is, technologies are facing a whole lot of new threats and vulnerabilities, and not many solutions are available. If you've look at the evolution of digital technologies, you'll find that once people figure out how to make money out of something, it quickly gains popularity. Heck, some might even argue that online pornography gave birth to e-commerce, which ultimately led to the prevalence of the Internet.
One of the key problems is that cyber crime has become a very profitable. Apparently, more money is made by cyber criminals than drug traffickers around the world. Since the actor and the act of cyber crime can be in separate geographical locations, regular law enforcement can barely work their way around trying to make sure that everyone plays by the same set of rules, allowing many crooks get away with their crime. To add fuel to fire, the anonymity of the Internet also makes it easy for regular folk to succumb to temptation and become bad folk when they think that nobody's watching.
Due to this toxic mix of various factors, I expect that cyber crime will continue to be prevalent, just as you can always count on people to greedy, curious, and/or stupid.
The Solution
[I got inspired by the ingenuity of the hackers when I watched a cyber forensics expert breakdown the anatomy of an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) attack. In general, people tend to think that when you want to tackle a big problem, you need a big hammer. The truth is, if you want to solve a big problem, you break it down into many smaller pieces, then use a series of small hammers, with each hammer being just good enough to solve only just the relevant part of the problem.]
Here's how you can help to solve the problem of cyber-crime -
Just don't do it!
The next time you try to illegally download an e-book, *.mp3 file, software, or movie, just spend some time to figure out how you can purchase it legally and spend those few dollars! The next time you think you can crack a WEP pass and get free internet, show up and ask for permission!
Why? Because if you are participate in cyber-crime, and you are perpetuating the environment of lawlessness and disorder. You and all your electronic devices all constitute a small fragment of the Internet. Just by being responsible for your own activities and devices, you are cleaning up the tiny piece of Internet real-estate that you own. Think about it as being a responsible member of the neighborhood.
Don't agree with me?
Just because you think you can get away with crime doesn't mean that you should break the law; if you keep going down that road, the only difference between you and a criminal hacker is technical capability, and it's only a matter of time before cyber crime finally catches up with you one way or another.
Don't agree with me?
Just because you think you can get away with crime doesn't mean that you should break the law; if you keep going down that road, the only difference between you and a criminal hacker is technical capability, and it's only a matter of time before cyber crime finally catches up with you one way or another.
Remember: Just don't do it.
The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! - Luke 12:2-3, NLT
"If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, then make the change" - Man in the Mirror (1987), Michael Jackson
