Many people today
are worried about ‘cybercrime’ such as hacking and identity theft. What
problems does ‘cybercrime’ cause, and what solutions can you suggest for
ordinary people and businesses to take?
Give reasons for
your answer, and provide ideas and examples from your own experience. You
should write at least 250 words.
Gullible internet users,
oblivious to hazards of failing to adopt appropriate safeguards, often prove to
be easy prey for the prying eyes of those attempting to steal sensitive details.
This, nevertheless, can have serious implications for the victims, making it
imperative to protect oneself from impact of such subversive acts.
Being defrauded can result in
a great loss to individuals, in terms of both financial and social reputation. Unauthorized
money transfers from bank accounts, or purchases on credit cards can financially
jeopardize people, making them pay for dubious transactions. Additionally,
unscrupulous elements, masquerading as someone else by using pictures and
profile details, can mislead others, making victims a subject of unwarranted public
wrath, and in extreme cases, bringing them under the scrutiny of the law
enforcement agencies.
Commercial establishments too
are at greater risk from such criminal acts. These have a potential to not only
dent their financial conditions, but also pose a hazard to their business if
the cyber criminals break into their confidential and sensitive databases, and
slip away with extremely critical business plans and blueprints, thereby putting
them in dire straits.
But this challenge is
surmountable nonetheless, provided one adopts appropriate safety measures, like
regularly changing passwords, sparingly using public computers for important
transactions, like banking or online shopping, or accessing emails or other
accounts. Organizations need stronger security and control: restricting access
to only authorized personnel, and shielding confidential data with customized
protection systems that do not follow generic procedures, can go a long way in
rendering appropriate defense against illegal access.
Hence, even though virtual
criminals are an integral attachment of cyber age, and eliminating them is
almost impossible, one can turn the tables on these antisocial elements by
acting prudently and embracing suitable measures to prevent