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Cybercrime: A New Class of Combat
Imagine someone walking around each day holding a notepad. On this notepad was
inscribed all the vital and sensitive personal information the individual had: banking information,
social security numbers, important documents, personal photos, and much more were held high
in the air for anyone to see. The idea of this is shocking, horrifying, and incomprehensible. Yet
each day, individuals utilize technological devices that can be easily hacked such as smartphones
and computers to store their most sensitive information. One article from Hugo Riggs states that
“Extensive data breaches have compromised the personally identifiable information of millions
of people” (Riggs et al., 2023). Many device users are unaware of the vulnerability their
information is exposed to thanks to the prevalence of cybercrimes. While individuals may not be
walking around with their information held above their heads, many are living each day with
their information accessible to cyber attackers in the technological realm. The individuals of the
21st century are faced with warfare of an entirely different scope than ever seen before. A type of
warfare that allows the battlefield to be held in your hand, placed on your desk, and carried in
your pocket. This is a battle that affects each country, culture, and individual.
What can be done to resolve this issue? Three primary actionable steps should be pursued
to alleviate the global cybercrime problem: artificial intelligence must be utilized to detect and
protect individuals from cybercrime, employees must be trained in the steps necessary to
mitigate cybercrime, and cyber attackers must be held accountable for their actions.
The first step towards mitigating the pervasive dilemma of cyber-criminal activity is
utilizing the incredible tools available in this modern age of technology. This primarily involves
the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) in detecting, tracking, and notifying authorities of
cyber-criminal activity. This issue is especially poignant to children as many adolescents do not
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have the appropriate awareness of the threat of cyber attackers to effectively avoid their scams.
One article titled “Artificial Intelligence Implementation to Counteract Cybercrimes Against
Children in Pakistan” by Saadia Anwar Pasha outlines that there are 266 daily cybercrimes
against children in Pakistan alone. Devastatingly, these cybercrimes often involve child
pornography and harassment. This same article states, “Artificial intelligence helps increase the
speed and probability of cybercrimes’ detection, reduces operator fatigue, and assists security
personnel in providing more attention where needed” (Pasha et al., 2022). While there are
certainly many misuses of AI, this scenario is certainly not one of them.
The second actionable step that could be beneficial in the elimination of cyber-attacks is
training and equipping employees of large-scale corporations to successfully spot, avoid, and
report cyber-criminal activity. In the post-COVID-19 pandemic age, more people work remotely
than ever before. While this is certainly a convenience for many employers, it also exposes them
to increased susceptibility to cyber-attacks. Often physical locations or corporate offices are
equipped with more secure internet access that can block many cyber criminals’ attempts.
Working remotely outside of this safety zone makes employees vulnerable to the nefarious
activity of cybercriminals. Studies have shown that a small amount of training in equipping
employees with the necessary knowledge and tools to spot cyber-criminal activity has vastly
improved the overall security of both the employee and employer. One study conducted by
Mohmmad Hijji titled “Cybersecurity Awareness and Training (CAT) Framework for Remote
Working Employees” showed that implementing training for individuals in awareness and
identification of cybercrime improved the security infrastructure of the organization.
Implementing basic training programs for employees could help to eliminate the threat of
cybercrime.
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Finally, to eradicate cybercrime for good, an infrastructure of consequences and justice must be
instigated. Consequence must precede change when it comes to cyber attackers. However, before
an attacker can be punished, they must be identified. An article by Hugo Riggs titled Impact,
Vulnerabilities, and Mitigation Strategies for Cyber-Secure Critical Infrastructure suggests that
“A legal system, specifically an international tribunal, is a more suitable approach to handling
attribution, as compared to a technological approach to this aspect of cybercrime” (Riggs et al.,
2023). Cybercriminal activity is not hemmed in by geographical, socioeconomic, or cultural
boundaries. It is a global issue impacting individuals on a global scale. That is why countries
must come together to stop this heinous activity. Technology must be used to identify cyber
hackers and each affected country must work in tandem to enact justice.
Some individuals may attempt to argue that cybercrime is not a large enough threat to
require these measures. Many have doubts about the integrity and viability of artificial
intelligence. Some may claim that monitoring the devices of children is the responsibility of the
parent and handing this duty off to AI is unethical. However, However, cyberattacks are simply
too sneaky, plentiful, and too prevalent for parents to protect their children against. An article
from Saadia Anwar Pasha states that since 2019 “The number of cyber violence against children
has increased 400 times more, raising questions regarding the credibility of the internet as a safe
place for children” (Pasha et al., 2022). This is a drastic increase in cyber-violence and one that
will dutifully require drastic measures to ameliorate. Furthermore, those who wish to say that
device monitoring should be conducted by parents of the children do not consider the millions of
children with an absent parent or parents, preoccupied parents, or neglectful parents. While this
may be sad, it is the truth. Many children simply do not have the responsible adults in their lives
that are necessary to ensure adequate protection from cyber attackers.
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This century has brought with it massive advancements in technology and machinery.
While this advancement has drastically increased efficiency, performance, and productivity, it
has also brought with it a breeding ground for computer criminal corruption. Cyber warfare is a
new type of war. It is a war that permeates every nook and cranny of each modern individual’s
life. This war on cyberattacks must not be fought passively. It is a war that must be fought with
tenacity, intentionality, and global collaboration. It is a war that demands the assistance of
artificial intelligence to monitor devices, employee education to avoid threats, and a global
justice infrastructure that enacts impartial penalties on cyber attackers. Only when advancements
are made in these three areas can cyber-criminal activity begin to be annihilated for good.
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References
Hijji, M., & Alam, G. (2022). Cybersecurity Awareness and Training (CAT) Framework for
Remote Working Employees. Sensors, 22(22), 8663. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22228663
Pasha, S. A., Ali, S., & Jeljeli, R. (2022). Artificial Intelligence Implementation to Counteract
Cybercrimes Against Children in Pakistan. Human Arenas.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42087-022-00312-8
Riggs, H., Tufail, S., Parvez, I., Tariq, M., Khan, M. A., Amir, A., Vuda, K. V., & Sarwat, A. I.
(2023). Impact, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigation Strategies for Cyber-Secure Critical
Infrastructure. Sensors, 23(8), 4060. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23084060
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