Computer Crimes

As the world entered the new millennium, a new form of a crime came into existence. Software piracy, hacking, and spamming, among others are what we call computer crimes.

Wikipedia defines computer crime as “a crime in which a computer plays an essential part.” Crimes are now getting sophisticated because of computers. Previously, credit card fraud only happened when one personally transacted in a store using a stolen credit card. But now, because of Internet technology, unscrupulous individuals can purchase an item online using a credit card of other people. Obtaining credit card information of other people is actually very easy if one knows how to perform advanced web search. With these credit card details, one can easily purchase anything, anywhere, and anytime in an online store with weak Internet security. Because almost everyone is using the Internet, everyone has been a victim of other computer crimes in one way or another.

Almost every computer user is familiar with computer viruses. These viruses can spread like wild fires in the information highway by just one click on the mouse. These types of viruses have done great damages to people around the world.

The infamous “Love Bug” had cost over a billion worth of damages and had penetrated the computer systems of FBI and White House, among others. Some people also obtain illegal access to other computers systems. Some people’s privacy is being violated as hackers deliberately snoop in computers of unaware victims. Worst, these hackers alter or even delete the contents of databases or hard disks of computers.

Other computer crimes involved sending bulk e-mail messages to different people. Sending unsolicited e-mails are now considered as a crime like in the United States under the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003.

Computer crimes were proven dangerous to one’s property and even to one’s life. Some computer crimes such as credit card fraud can give financial burden to victims. Nevertheless, to protect people from computer crimes, various laws were ratified and provided corresponding punishments for people who commit computer crimes.

Reference:

Computer Crime. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2005, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_crime.

Cyber Crime Cases

Computer crimes do not only happen in first world countries such as in the United States. A number of crimes have also been part of local and international news that something to do with computer abuse.

Software Piracy

In May 21, 2004, four computer shops in Muntinlupa City were raided by the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for selling pirated software. NBI seized all the machines being used in reproducing copies of computer software. The raid came after a Microsoft legal counsel in the Philippines filed charges against these four computer firms. These shops are facing criminal charges for violating the copyright law and the intellectual property rights.

In spite of the massive government campaign of the government, piracy is still very rampant in the Philippines. This is not unusual for a country whose people are struggling everyday to provide for their families with basic needs. The cost of software licenses is undeniably high for an ordinary Filipino. Because of this, some are tempted to buy these pirated software unaware that they are actually violating some criminal laws.

Pornography in the Internet

"We are not doing anything wrong here." This is the statement of one of the girls who was caught inside a cyber sex den raided by police authorities. Early this year around 19 Filipino women and 6 men were apprehended in Las Piñas City as local police raided 6 apartments that operate illicit type of business. Some girls were alleged to be actually performing illicit sex in front of computer cameras with their patrons from the United States and Germany.

The syndicate allegedly earns one million pesos daily from its business operation. It is not surprising that many women are enticed to get into this kind of business because of money. Their morals are actually at stake here but because of poverty, they actually have no choice but to enter in this kind of business to earn a living.

Computer Virus

Who could forget the “ILOVEYOU” virus that had created serious damages around the world? It is a already known that a Filipino was behind the spread of this virus. The virus was so destructive that it had cost more than a billion dollars in damages all over the world. Onel de Guzman, the creator of the virus, was not actually prosecuted that time because there was no law in the Philippines that penalizes what he did. However, this “ILOVEYOU” virus actually gave birth to the promulgation of computer crime laws in the Philippines.

References:

Pirated software confiscated in Muntinlupa. (2004). Retrieved September 22, 2005, from http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2004/may/23/yehey/metro/20040523met4.html

Las Piñas cyber sex den raided; 25 detained. (2005). Retrieved September 21, 2005, from http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=25047

Derfner, J. (2000). What Laws Did ILOVEYOU Break?. Retrieved September 22, 2005, from http://slate.msn.com/id/1005271