The internet is a very attractive place for criminals to commit crime and to attract more victims to fall into their trap. The internet is merely a virtual extension of human civilization, and all things that can be encountered in real life, are now happening in the cyber world as well. Although there is no physical contact on the internet at all, people still tend to be drawn towards the dark side and at risk of becoming a victim of cyber crime.
There are varieties of cyber crimes that can be committed such as cyber trespass like crossing boundaries into other people’s property or cause damage or in a short term it is called hacking. Next, cyber deceptions and thefts such as stealing money or resources, credit card fraud and violations. Cyber pornography is also a type of cyber crime where people breach the law of obscenity. Cyber violence such as psychological or physical harm to others such as hate speech and stalking is also a type of cyber crime. These criminals can be from a broad range of persons such as terrorists, students, amateurs and organized crime groups. These criminals usually have great knowledge of computers & the internet which enables them to commit crime of choice. Any of these technically orientated people has potential of committing cyber crime.
The main reasons why the criminal are more likely to commit crime on the internet is because the internet serves three functional purposes, it protects theirs identity, ensure the successful completion of offense, and to facilitate an escape if necessary. Besides that, the internet offers a huge sense of anonymity, reaches a large number of users, and can be manipulated by savvy users hence it is much easier for the criminals to commit crime compared to in the real world. They see the internet as having more means and opportunity than the physical world has and they perceive the internet as a safer environment.
Furthermore, the features of the internet allow people to commit crime without having to worry that they would be caught. The internet is very flexible on identity, allows people to achieve total anonymity, and transcends spatial boundaries. Besides, anyone or everyone can gain access to almost any part of the internet and it allows loose self-boundaries. Anyone can be whoever they want to on the internet by just creating a cyber identity and virtual appearance. The internet enables them to create a new identity and hide their real one. They can disguise as another person in many way possible where that can never do so in the psychical world. Strangers are likely to unite together in cyberspace to commit crime than in the physical space.
In conclusion, criminals are drawn to commit crime on the internet because cyber attacks can take place anywhere anytime and it can happen in milliseconds compared to physical world and this gives them more opportunities to do whatever they want to without having to worry of being discovered as they can create as many identities as they want.
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References
Evan M. Axelrod Front Cover (2009) Violence Goes to the Internet: Avoiding the Snare of the Net [Online]. United States: Charles C Thomas Publisher. Retrieved from: http://books.google.com.my/books?id=HJqjm2fpXckC&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=Criminals+are+drawn+to+the+internet+because+the+cloak+of+cyberspace+is+virtually+impenetrable.&source=bl&ots=4rRJ0icA2y&sig=wK9BH9Ncu3p82w6qct_GoajTyPg&hl=en&ei=O9LxTPftJcnXcZ3h4ckK&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Criminals%20are%20drawn%20to%20the%20internet%20because%20the%20cloak%20of%20cyberspace%20is%20virtually%20impenetrable.&f=false [Accessed 28th November 2010].
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