NCJ Number
204366
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: Fall 2003 Pages: 199-220
Date Published
2003
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This research provides a descriptive analysis of computer crime victimization in eight countries for the years 1999 through 2001.
Abstract
Developments in computer technology over the past 25 years have lead to revolutions in the way businesses and communications operate. Global use of the Internet has led to technology-based criminal activities. Computer crimes continue to grab the attention of the worldwide community as policymakers, the media, and governmental agencies contend that computer crimes are increasing each year. However, most of the proclamations concerning rates of computer crimes are not based on official crime statistics, but rely instead upon anecdotal evidence or victimization surveys, which tend to examine only a single type of crime. In fact, few countries produce statistics concerning computer crimes, making it difficult to accurately measure the problem. In an effort to estimate the prevalence of computer crime victimization, the author analyzed data gathered from the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) pertaining to computer crimes in Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Trends in crime rate victimization for the years 1999 through 2001, as well as rates of computer crime victimization in each country were estimated. The analysis indicated that computer security incidents are indeed on the rise, especially in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The validity of the CERT construct “computer security instrument” was also examined and the analysis indicated that the CERT construct better explicated measures of computer crime than did the official data from Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. As the number of global on-line users increase, so does the incidence of computer crime victimization. Since projections indicate that the World Wide Web population will only continue to grow, especially in developing nations, it is reasonable to assume that computer crime victimization will continue to rise in the coming years. One way to increase law enforcement efforts in curbing computer crimes is to develop a world-wide consensus on computer crime laws and create standard terminology to make reporting victimization easier. Tables, notes, references