Stiffer Penalties for Cybercrimes

do you believe that stiffer penalties for cybercrimes are the best way to prevent these crimes?

I am not sure at all that stiffer penalties to cybercrimes are the best way to prevent these crimes. After all we have stiff penalties for selling drugs and our jails are filled with drug dealers and the trade continues as if nothing. Even with the three-strikes you’re out law.

Cybercriminals are quite sophisticated. I think laws are in place. The Law Blogger (2011) explains that President Obama announced a legislative initiative designed to strengthen the penalties for convicted computer hackers. The initiative proposes a mandatory 3-year prison term upon conviction of a number of computer crimes; the sentence would be served consecutively to any other convicted counts.

So there is some deterrence in place. Apparently, there is a lot of money to be made so perhaps the deterrence is not enough or not enough staff is in place to go after the criminals. In addition, a lot of the cybercrime occurs outside of the prevent cybercrime. Many do not realize their vulnerability and others that do, don’t realize to what extend they are vulnerable. Most do not realize all the types of cybercrimes that exist.

Education is key in helping prevent some cybercrime. Also having a plan is important. So realizing that it could happen to you. Plan, report, resolve. Copy all the cards in your wallet. Try to think ahead. Keep your financial information is a safe place. Again copy it. So, protect critical documents. Get rid of old cards--shred. Think about who you give your PII (personally identifiable information) to online. Check your credit card reports with regularity. Lock your computer. Be careful where you access your financial accounts from. Plan your passwords.

Reference

The Law Blogger. (2011). White House proposes stiffer penalties in computer hacking legislation. Retrieved on June 8, 2011, from...