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Computer Crimes
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Definition of Computer Crime
 
Computer crime is the illegal use of computer technology to support crimes such as theft, or sharing of information.  Examples are the creation and spreading of viruses, worms, trojan horses; hacking and identity theft.
 
From the cases summarized in Module 12, I believe that the following constitute a computer crime:
 
      The motive which drives one to act.
 
      Such act is executed by any means, direct or indirect, intentional or not. 
 
      Such means violate an existing law.
 
Three Examples of Computer Crimes
 
Cyber War

      War is the opposite of peace.  It is the conlict between two opposing groups, nations or organizations by the use of military forces.

      But with the use of modern information and communication technology, there is a new trend of war.  It is no longer physical and bloody.   It has gone digital.

      Cyber war is otherwise called as information warfare.

      It is done by launching viruses, crashing networks, hacking secured systems, spreading misinformation and interfering with the military and intelligence operations.

      There is no more "army of men".  But, there is an "army of hackers."

Creation and Launching of Trojan Horses

      Trojan Horse was named after the giant, wooden horse given by the Greeks to the citizens of Troy as an offering of peace.  But the "gift" turned out to be a deceptive one for inside it hid thousands of Greek soldiers who surprisely defeated the city.

      The Trojan Horse in computer, is also filled with full of surprises.  It pretends to be a helpful program, but turns out to be a malicious one.

       Its effects vary from damaging, deleting to destroying important files.  It might disguise as an application useful to get rid of viruses; yet it would infect the user's computer system instead.

Child Pornography

       Wikipedia says that in United Kingdom, "child pornography" image is an "indecent photography of a child".  Definition of child pornography varies from one country to another.  But generally, "production, possession and sale of child pornography" are considered "illegal".

         

Sources:

Brookes, Peter. The Art of Cyber War. Computer Crime Research Center. Retrieved October 1, 2005 from http://www.crime-research.org/articles/Cyber-War/

Holetzky, Sherry.  What is a Trojan Horse.  WiseGeek. Retrieved October 1, 2005 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-trojan-horse.htm?referrer=adwords_campaign=trojanhorse_ad=900039&_search_kw=trojan%20horse

Child Pornography. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 1, 2005 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_pornography#Canada