Navigating the Digital Age: Navigating the Paradise of Computer Crime in the Age

 "Navigating the Digital Age: Navigating the Paradise of Computer Crime in the Age"

Navigating the Digital Age: Navigating the Paradise of Computer Crime in the Age

In 2023, we witnessed a surge in computer crimes, fueled by the ever-expanding realm of new technologies, notably artificial intelligence.

The trajectory of computer crimes unfolds in four distinctive phases. Initially, there were highly specialized crimes demanding deep knowledge of IT and computing. This era saw exploits on Arpanet and sophisticated scams like Vladimir Levin's heist of over 10 million dollars from Citibank and the infamous Morris Worm breaching 10 thousand computers on Arpanet in 1988.

The second phase, sparked by the birth of HTML and the World Wide Web, brought a notable uptick in crimes. With a burgeoning pool of victims and a global market, the absence of specific legislation facilitated these misdeeds. Technical prowess was no longer a prerequisite, as Sutherland's learning theory thrived on shared techniques and easy access to information.

Social networks heralded the third stage, fostering connections and enabling open intelligence and social engineering. This normalized crimes against property and honor, removing the need for technical expertise from the perpetrators.

The fourth wave, ushered in by artificial intelligence, brings forth IoT attacks, online scams, deep fakes, Ransomware as a Service (RaaS), and an unsettling information insecurity stemming from the blur between the real and virtual. Identifying the culprits and the materiality of these crimes becomes an enormous challenge.

Looking ahead to 2024, the primary challenge lies in grappling with the sophistication of these attacks. Vulnerabilities multiply, and the array of entry points widens—from Smart TVs to totems, microphones, cameras, sensors, household appliances, to the conventional personal computers and cell phones.

For context, CISO Advisor reported a 12.92% global increase in ransomware attacks compared to the previous year, with 4,881 victims documented until early December [1].

Even the staunchest optimist, adhering to Durkheim's theory of anomie, would acknowledge the dysfunctionality of computer crimes. Despite their financial impact, the sheer quantity and the feeling of anomie they generate are unmistakable, not to mention the staggering hidden figures.

As we step into 2024, the spotlight is on effectively combating computer crimes driven by artificial intelligence. This calls for a criminal policy that unravels the value chain of these criminals, empowers victims with digital education for preventive actions, fosters international collaborations due to the transnational nature of these crimes, invests in cybersecurity, trains prosecution actors to identify criminals, and explores virtual infiltration possibilities.

Perhaps the recently formed National Cybersecurity Committee (CNCiber) might find its inaugural debate in addressing computer crimes fueled by the new arsenal brought by artificial intelligence. However, the solution extends beyond legislation, echoing the wisdom of the Marquis of Maricá: "force without intelligence is like movement without direction."

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