Cyber Security

Reynolds Seven-Step Approach: Computer-Based Crimes

Derrick Harper

IFSM 304

INTRODUCTION

Today’s technology has opened up a new realm of criminal activity, and new ways to exploit innocent people. Cyber-related crimes have been increasing for the past decade and include a number of different illegal activities to include: identity theft, phishing, cyber-stalking, and the use of malware. Criminal activities are of course, unethical, and cyber-crimes are no exception. It is a problem plaguing our society, and people have to be diligent to avoid being attacked and exploited. “It seems that everything relies on computers and the internet now — communication, entertainment, transportation (car engine systems, airplane navigation), shopping, and medicine (equipment, medical records). How much of your daily life relies on computers? How much of your personal information is stored either on your own computer or on someone else's system? Cyber security involves protecting that information by preventing, detecting, and responding to attacks” (US CERT, 2013). Today, we’ll look at an ethical approach (Reynolds' Seven-Step Ethical Decision-Making Approach) to develop protective measures that could help in mitigating cyber-crimes. Ethically, cyber-crimes really boil down to what’s right and wrong. Deontological theories focus on the right action, doing the right thing, no matter the consequences. All humans on this planet have a deontological duty to do what’s right for fellow man; and committing crimes over the internet is clearly wrong. It is a basic duty of existence to treat others how you would want to be treated, and I’m sure that no one wants their identity stolen. I’m sure that the cyber-actors committing these cyber-crimes aren’t thinking about their ethical duties to mankind, but maybe, these crimes could be mitigated if everyone had a better understanding of basic ethics and morals.

STEP 1- GET THE FACTS

The first step in Reynolds’s approach is gather the...