The Future of Computer Crime in America

Sociology Research Paper



Sociology per. #2



10/8/96



The Future of Computer Crime
in
America







Sociology Topics:
Future Society
Social Change
Social and Enviromental Issues
Deviant Behavior
Crime/Corrections



Name: Brandon Robinson Period: # 2
Page 1



The proliferation of home computers, and of home computers equipped with
modems, has brought about a major transformation in the way American society
communicates, interacts, and receives information. All of these changes being
popularized by the media and the wide increased personal and private sector use of the
Internet. All of these factors plus the fact of more and more business and government
institutions are jumping to make the use of these services has put a much wider range of
information at the finger tips of those, often select and few individuals whom know how
to access, understand and use these information sources. Often times today this
information is of a very sensitive and private nature on anything from IRS Tax returns, to
Top Secret NASA payload launch information. Piled on top of that many times the
individuals accessing these information sources are doing so by illegal means and are
often motivated by deviant and illegal means. It is said that at any given time the average
American has his name on an active file in over 550 computer information databases of
which nearly 90% are online, and of the 550 databases the number comes no where close
to how many time your personal information is listed in some database in an unactive
file. The "Average American" could simply sit in his/her home doing nearly nothing all
day long and still have his/her name go through over 1,000 computers a day.

All of these vast information files all hold the crucial ones and zero's of data that
make up your life as you and all others know it. All of these data bits, at the hands
100,000's of people. With little or NO central control or regulatory agency to oversee the
safe handling of your precious little ones and zero's of information. As it would seem
Arson Wells was little late with his title of "1984" . "BIG BROTHER" is INDEED
WATCHING, US ALL and as it would seem our BIG BROTHER is alot bigger then Mr.
Wells could have ever imagined. And that our BIG BROTHER is EVERYWHERE! The
100,000's of people that do have this information make up our modern BIG BROTHER
in the form of government institutions to private advertising companies, these people are
all the "trusted" ones who use our information everyday for legal and useful purposes but
what about the others who use their skills and and knowledge to gain their "own"
personal and illegal access to these vast depositories of information? These individuals
popularized and demonized by the media are often referred to as "Hackers" or "One who
obtains unauthorized if not illegal, access to computer data systems and or networks." or
the media definition "maladjusted losers forming "high-tech street gangs that are
dangerous to society" (Chicago Tribune, 1989) Which ever one is best fitted they are
indeed becoming a very serious issue and worry to some in our ever and constantly
changing American Techno Society. Because of the serious delection by our elected
representatives whom have valiantly once again failed to keep up with the ever changing
times, there is if any major or clear and easy to understand "CONSTITUTIONAL" (The
recent 3 to 1 over turn of the not only controversial but deemed UNconstituional law
culled the Communications Decency Act") laws as to the


Page 2

governing of the vastly wild and uncharted realms of cyberspace. The flagrant and
serious if not slightly laughable attempts of our technologically illiterate and ignorant
masses of elected officials. Sends a clear S.O.S. message to the future generations of
America to not only LOCK you PHYSICAL DOORS but also LOCK and double LOCK
all or your COMPUTER DOORS as well. In order for this society to evolve efficiently
with our ever changing technology rate. We as the masses are going to have to keep
abreast with the current events that are lurking out in the depths of cyberspace. Before
we, as a result of our inability to adapt and our arrogance and ignorance, are all products
of our own technological over indulgence. So to avoid the tragic and ending collision of
our own self manufactured technological self-destruction and the break-down of our
society, in every tangible aspect, as we know of it today.

I believe that in the future we are headed towards you will see our society divided
into Two major parts 1.) Those whom pose the knowledge and capability to obtain the
knowledge/information i.e.. the "LITERATE" and 2.) Those who don't pose the skills
necessary to obtain that crucial knowledge/information, i.e.. the "ROAD KILL" Because
in the future, the power structure will not be decided by who has the most guns or
missiles or weapons but the powers structure will be made up of little tiny ones and
zero's, bits of data giving to those whom ever poses the power of the knowledge and the
power to manipulate who has that knowledge. The "rich" and "elitist" will be the
knowledge posers and givers and the "poor" will be those with the lack of knowledge.
Knowledge will bring power and wealth and the lack of will bring.....well the lack of
power, wealth and knowledge.

Brandon Robinson
10/8/96 864 words


Sources

1.Thesis by Gordon R. Meyer "The Social Organization of the Computer Underground"

2.2600 Magazine The Hacker Quarterly

3.The Codex Magazine Monthly Security and Technical Update.

4.Secrets of a Super Hacker by the Knightmare

5.Personal Knowledge, Brandon Robinson