I have a love/hate relationship with my computer.
As long as it does what I want and doesn’t ask too many questions I allow it to operate without restrictions. But as soon as it misbehaves, as it often does, I never hesitate to shut down the whole system immediately with no remorse.
Later, when I turn it back on, it seems to work a lot better and it isn’t as cocky or belligerent any more. My computer knows who’s the boss.
Many national leaders around the world would like to have that same capability. In the event of cyber attacks on government websites or cell phone-fuelled civil unrest or other unspecified electronic assaults, many world governments are looking for that elusive “Internet kill switch.”
This magical, all-powerful switch would enable a Barrack Obama or a Vladimir Putin or even, heaven forbid, a Steven Harper to completely shut down all electronic communication in the event of an emergency or a perceived threat.
Why would they want to take such drastic action? Well, for one thing, governments are just like the rest of us. We all feel helpless against a growing attack from hackers, identity thieves and many other cyber criminals. What else can we do except pull the plug?
Anyone who lives all or part of their life in the virtual world should take note – cyberspace is under attack. Cybercrime is the new domain of mobsters, predators and thieves.
The gadget-loving public has been lulled into a false sense of security. Society at large tends to dismiss cyber criminals as pimple-faced teenage geeks getting their kicks by hacking their way into secure sites.
Several years ago we were amused by the prospect of a 15-year-old kid holding the Pentagon for ransom. It used to be about bragging rights and talk show appearances but cyber crime has grown in scope and sophistication.
In spite of a global recession cyber crime is a modern day success story and growth industry. What upwardly mobile criminal could resist? The monetary rewards are unlimited and the risk is almost non-existent.
And so, enterprising entrepreneurs all over the globe are jumping on the bandwagon and launching an increasing attack on the virtual world and everybody in it, their contacts, their secrets, their money and their identity.
In January of this year Canadian government computers were subjected to a cyber attack, a “spear phishing” operation, which targeted highly classified and economically valuable information. Two ministries had to be shut down. It was traced to somewhere in China.
Canadians were never told what was taken or what damage was done but the fact is nobody seemed very surprised by the attack. Canada’s Internet security is described as “woefully unprepared.” The threat is growing and we can expect more attacks.
Almost all Canadians (99 per cent) expect to be victims of cyber crimes like online fraud and identity theft. Globally, there is a general feeling of helplessness. What’s more, nobody really expects cyber criminals to be caught much less brought to justice.
When it comes to the justice system cyber criminals have little to fear. They can steal, cheat and blackmail with impunity just by using a mouse and a click. They can be in and out in a nanosecond and take everything you have.
Rogue websites are specifically designed to lure consumers with counterfeit shoes and fake prescription drugs. The Internet and the private citizens who populate cyberspace are being used as a personal ATM by organized gangs of cyber criminals.
Our law enforcement agencies know how to deal with physical crimes like assault and robbery using conventional methods. But cyber criminals and their dirty deeds in hyperspace are invisible, sophisticated and ruthless. There is no cyber justice.
And now that they have technology at their disposal, this assault is relentless. The Internet never sleeps, never takes a day off and shows no mercy. In some ways it’s more calculating and cold-blooded than the thugs who use it.
And that’s why there is so much talk about shutting it down.
In my younger days we used to worry about who had their finger on the button. You know the one – if Kennedy or Khrushchev pushed it would mean nuclear annihilation.
Soon we may all be nervously waiting for somebody to click the Global Internet Kill Switch and send the world into information limbo.
We may not be annihilated, but it looks like there may be casualties.
As long as it does what I want and doesn’t ask too many questions I allow it to operate without restrictions. But as soon as it misbehaves, as it often does, I never hesitate to shut down the whole system immediately with no remorse.
Later, when I turn it back on, it seems to work a lot better and it isn’t as cocky or belligerent any more. My computer knows who’s the boss.
Many national leaders around the world would like to have that same capability. In the event of cyber attacks on government websites or cell phone-fuelled civil unrest or other unspecified electronic assaults, many world governments are looking for that elusive “Internet kill switch.”
This magical, all-powerful switch would enable a Barrack Obama or a Vladimir Putin or even, heaven forbid, a Steven Harper to completely shut down all electronic communication in the event of an emergency or a perceived threat.
Why would they want to take such drastic action? Well, for one thing, governments are just like the rest of us. We all feel helpless against a growing attack from hackers, identity thieves and many other cyber criminals. What else can we do except pull the plug?
Anyone who lives all or part of their life in the virtual world should take note – cyberspace is under attack. Cybercrime is the new domain of mobsters, predators and thieves.
The gadget-loving public has been lulled into a false sense of security. Society at large tends to dismiss cyber criminals as pimple-faced teenage geeks getting their kicks by hacking their way into secure sites.
Several years ago we were amused by the prospect of a 15-year-old kid holding the Pentagon for ransom. It used to be about bragging rights and talk show appearances but cyber crime has grown in scope and sophistication.
In spite of a global recession cyber crime is a modern day success story and growth industry. What upwardly mobile criminal could resist? The monetary rewards are unlimited and the risk is almost non-existent.
And so, enterprising entrepreneurs all over the globe are jumping on the bandwagon and launching an increasing attack on the virtual world and everybody in it, their contacts, their secrets, their money and their identity.
In January of this year Canadian government computers were subjected to a cyber attack, a “spear phishing” operation, which targeted highly classified and economically valuable information. Two ministries had to be shut down. It was traced to somewhere in China.
Canadians were never told what was taken or what damage was done but the fact is nobody seemed very surprised by the attack. Canada’s Internet security is described as “woefully unprepared.” The threat is growing and we can expect more attacks.
Almost all Canadians (99 per cent) expect to be victims of cyber crimes like online fraud and identity theft. Globally, there is a general feeling of helplessness. What’s more, nobody really expects cyber criminals to be caught much less brought to justice.
When it comes to the justice system cyber criminals have little to fear. They can steal, cheat and blackmail with impunity just by using a mouse and a click. They can be in and out in a nanosecond and take everything you have.
Rogue websites are specifically designed to lure consumers with counterfeit shoes and fake prescription drugs. The Internet and the private citizens who populate cyberspace are being used as a personal ATM by organized gangs of cyber criminals.
Our law enforcement agencies know how to deal with physical crimes like assault and robbery using conventional methods. But cyber criminals and their dirty deeds in hyperspace are invisible, sophisticated and ruthless. There is no cyber justice.
And now that they have technology at their disposal, this assault is relentless. The Internet never sleeps, never takes a day off and shows no mercy. In some ways it’s more calculating and cold-blooded than the thugs who use it.
And that’s why there is so much talk about shutting it down.
In my younger days we used to worry about who had their finger on the button. You know the one – if Kennedy or Khrushchev pushed it would mean nuclear annihilation.
Soon we may all be nervously waiting for somebody to click the Global Internet Kill Switch and send the world into information limbo.
We may not be annihilated, but it looks like there may be casualties.
