While the U.S. has undoubtedly transformed and benefited from the rapid advancement of technology, the new era has allowed the passage and creation of a new breed of criminals: cyber thieves and hackers.
The internet now plays a major role in the everyday functioning of societal and business activities. The ability to transfer and store information instantly across a cyber medium can be found in the millions of Americans' daily usage of online banking services, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, and Amazon to name a few. Sophisticated individuals or groups of them who have the knowledge and means to do so can now take advantage of such activities for their own unlawful monetary and personal gains. Identity theft, computer fraud, and spam attacks are quickly replacing the worries of what once used to be primarily burglaries and vandalism. Cyber thieves are stealing identities and personal information from unknowing victims and hackers pose not only a home threat, but an enormous military threat in their abilities to backdoor systems and destroy information and data. So what is the US government doing to address the problem?
I believe that U.S. government has the same responsibility of protecting their citizens in the safety of their own computers just as much as protecting Americans in their own homes. Police patrol the streets and respond to any attack on life or property, so I don't think a cyber police force should not be too much to ask for.
One of the things I see that Obama does not get enough credit for amidst all the criticsm on the economy is his awareness of the problems that will soon largely face the new generation. Obama recognized the critical issue of cybersecurity and paved the way for a new dimension of focus in crime by creating a Cybersecurity Czar and starting new policies concerning it.
The US government is at least taking a step, a very good step, in the right direction. Cyber crimes statisically are rapidly rising with each passing year and if not already, this will be a huge issue in the mind of the public. It will be the US government's job to continue to adapt to the changing environment and keep its promise to protect its citizens whether it is on the streets or on the web.
Very interesting point he has made by Jonathan Ninh in his blog "The voice of Democracy" on cyber security. You are absolutely right that the new era has allowed the passage and creation of a new breed of criminals: cyber thieves and hackers. Internet plays vital role in our life. It is the most common means of communicationn people use for every purposes. But there are many risks, some more serious than others. Among these dangers are viruses erasing your entire system, someone breaking into your system and alerting files, someone using your computer to attack others, or someone stealing your credit card informaton and making unauthorized purchases. It sounds true that US government has responsibility of protecting their citizens in the safety of their own computer just as much as protecting Americans in their own homes. As Ninh said obama recognized the critiocal issue of cybersecurity and paved the way for a dimension of focus in crime by creating a cybersecurity likewise other political leaders also need to show their interest on behave of cybersecurity.
ReplyDeleteUS government is taking some step which is good sign to reduce cyber crimes that are rapidly rising with each passing year. Ninh idea about cybersecurity is very clear and acceptable.