CYBERCRIME: A BRIEF OVERVIEW

POL370F

PROF. BENJAMIN BARTLETT

MIAMI UNIVERSITY

WHAT WE WILL DISCUSS

1. Definition of cybercrime.
2. Two types of cybercrime: non-coercive and coercive.
3. Advantages of cybercrime over non-cyber crime.
4. Why cyberspace is probably more useful for crime than forconflict or terrorism.

WHAT IS CYBERCRIME?

• The use of illicit cyber operations for financial gain.
• In other words, the main goal must be to make money.
• Two models:
• Non-coercive
• Coercive

NON-COERCIVE CYBERCRIME

• Use cyber exploitation to steal information that can thenbe monetized.
• Bank account numbers, credit card numbers, social securitynumbers, etc.
• Important to keep the target unaware of the cyberoperation.

COERCIVE CYBERCRIME

• Threaten to destroy information valuable to the target unlessthey pay you.
• Main example: ransomware.
• Encrypt all of the files on a computer, offer to reverse the process if you arepaid.
• Has become more popular thanks to cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.
• Important that the victim knows they are at risk.

RANSOMWARE: A CLEVER WAY TO RESOLVE THECREDIBILITY PROBLEM

• Usual problem with coercion in cyberspace: hard to proveyou have the capabilities to carry out the threat.
• Ransomware is a clever solution to this problem:
• First, carry out the threat.
• Then, offer to reverse the damages for money.

REVIEW: NON-COERCIVE VS. COERCIVECYBERCRIME

• Non-coercive:
• Theft.
• Make money by selling/using information.
• Want to keep the cyber operation a secret from the victim.
• Coercive:
• “Armed robbery.”
• Make money by threatening the victim unless they pay you.
• Need the victim to know about any cyber operation.

ADVANTAGES OF CYBERCRIME OVER NORMALCRIME

1. Harder to get caught.
2. Easy to commit crimes in countries that do not havejurisdiction over you.
3. Lots of potential targets.
4. Low cost.

WHY MIGHT CYBERSPACE BE MORE USEFUL FORCRIME THAN CONFLICT OR TERRORISM?

1. Anonymity is a pure positive when it comes tocybercrime.
2. Do not need to hit specific targets---can cast a wide net.
3. Do not need the “latest and greatest” in malware; canoften rely on known vulnerabilities.

CONCLUSION

• Cybercrime is the use of illicit cyber meansto make money.
• There are two types of cybercrime:
1. Non-coercive
2. Coercive
• Cybercrime has a number of advantages over non-cyber crime.
• Cyberspace is probably more useful for crime than it is for conflict orterrorism.