Cyber Crimes on the rise

We covered the issues of computer security and cyber crime.  I decided to look at actual cases of cyber crime using Google.  Just performing a simple Google search yields many results.  One article I read indicates that cyber crime cases are on the rise in a North Carolina community.  The state of North Carolina passed a cyberbullying law in 2009, and the law has been used to prosecute cases of cyber crime.  The cases mentioned in the article deal with individuals who hacked another's Facebook page.  The article speaks to the fact that it is a new law being used so many citizens do not even realize they are committing a crime.

Another article describes an FBI investigation into a group of international hackers who infiltrated the computer network of a major financial services company.  The hackers accessed payroll numbers, PIN codes, and raised account balances.  The suspects were indicted and faced up to 20-30 years in prison.  

The issues of computer security and cyber crime are important to research.  Both issues appear to be on the rise especially with more and more people putting personal information on social network sites such as Facebook.  People should be instructed in the various ways to protect one's self online.