STUDY UNIT 2:TECHNOLOGY AND
CYBER CRIME
Cyber-crime is a manufactured risk
o This is a problem in SA As hacking is often targeting vulnerable
individuals for economic motivation (Eg stealing pension funds)
Technological crimes are increasing largely as the landscape for crime is
changing.
o New technologies create new opportunities for criminals.
o Very fast paced that is difficult to keep up with.
Technology is a useful tool in the police force
o Managemnet in SA of these tools are not being done correctly
Challenges with using technology in the prevention and solving crime in SA:
o There are not enough resources being placed on training
o Budget and maintenance
o Management
Nepotism in the place of those who know how to use the technology
Management needs to have integrity in order to reduce cybercrime.
o Capabilities and restrictions of certain technologies
There may be restrictions in place that prevents the use of certain
technologies (Eg. The use of high frequency notes during a riot may
be seen as a human rights violation)
o Improper usage
They may be using the equipment incorrectly
o Fear and resistance
One may be too old thus they may be afraid to use this new
technology thus they may just never use this technology.
Risk information superstructures- the government will know everything about
you (So does cyber criminals)
COVID-19 caused a surge of cyber incidents as the pandemic created new
opportunities for attackers.
This crime is borderless
o It cannot be controlled
, o It is global and anonymous
o They can commit terrorism
Any illegal act where a computer, network or electronic device with a memory
or processing capability is:
o The object or target of the crime.
o The instrument used to commit the crime, or;
o Used as repository of evidence relating to a crime.
Evidence must be sealed in order to ensure that one cannot argue it is
tampered with.
Risk society in the cybercrime world:
o There is always threat (Any potential danger or action that could exploit a
vulnerability in your systems, data, people or other assets.
o Vulnerability is a weakness or flaw or shortcoming in the system that can
be exploited by a threat
o Cyber risk is the probability of loss in terms of both frequency or
magnitude.
MOTIVATION AS WHY PEOPLE COMMIT CYBERCRIME
Motivation as why people commit cybercrime:
o Political: Driven by a political aspect, such as political reasoning,
spreading propaganda, or attacking political enemies.
Most common in South Africa.
o Economic: Illegal actions driven by financial gain.
Deploying ransomware with the purpose of acquiring paid ransom.
o Fun/Personal: Driven by a desire to prove skills, to solve challenging
problems, or to expose security flaws.
Eg. Driven by non-malicious intentions.
o Accidental: Unintentional or unexpected discovery of a security flaw or
vulnerability.
o Criminal: Conscious decision to intentionally conduct wrongdoing or
criminal intent (but lacking financial incentive).
Eg. Performing a system intrusion to access personally identifiable
information (PII).
The three South African sectors most affected by the past decade’s cyber
incidents were the public, financial, and telecommunications sectors.
CYBER CRIME
Cyber-crime is a manufactured risk
o This is a problem in SA As hacking is often targeting vulnerable
individuals for economic motivation (Eg stealing pension funds)
Technological crimes are increasing largely as the landscape for crime is
changing.
o New technologies create new opportunities for criminals.
o Very fast paced that is difficult to keep up with.
Technology is a useful tool in the police force
o Managemnet in SA of these tools are not being done correctly
Challenges with using technology in the prevention and solving crime in SA:
o There are not enough resources being placed on training
o Budget and maintenance
o Management
Nepotism in the place of those who know how to use the technology
Management needs to have integrity in order to reduce cybercrime.
o Capabilities and restrictions of certain technologies
There may be restrictions in place that prevents the use of certain
technologies (Eg. The use of high frequency notes during a riot may
be seen as a human rights violation)
o Improper usage
They may be using the equipment incorrectly
o Fear and resistance
One may be too old thus they may be afraid to use this new
technology thus they may just never use this technology.
Risk information superstructures- the government will know everything about
you (So does cyber criminals)
COVID-19 caused a surge of cyber incidents as the pandemic created new
opportunities for attackers.
This crime is borderless
o It cannot be controlled
, o It is global and anonymous
o They can commit terrorism
Any illegal act where a computer, network or electronic device with a memory
or processing capability is:
o The object or target of the crime.
o The instrument used to commit the crime, or;
o Used as repository of evidence relating to a crime.
Evidence must be sealed in order to ensure that one cannot argue it is
tampered with.
Risk society in the cybercrime world:
o There is always threat (Any potential danger or action that could exploit a
vulnerability in your systems, data, people or other assets.
o Vulnerability is a weakness or flaw or shortcoming in the system that can
be exploited by a threat
o Cyber risk is the probability of loss in terms of both frequency or
magnitude.
MOTIVATION AS WHY PEOPLE COMMIT CYBERCRIME
Motivation as why people commit cybercrime:
o Political: Driven by a political aspect, such as political reasoning,
spreading propaganda, or attacking political enemies.
Most common in South Africa.
o Economic: Illegal actions driven by financial gain.
Deploying ransomware with the purpose of acquiring paid ransom.
o Fun/Personal: Driven by a desire to prove skills, to solve challenging
problems, or to expose security flaws.
Eg. Driven by non-malicious intentions.
o Accidental: Unintentional or unexpected discovery of a security flaw or
vulnerability.
o Criminal: Conscious decision to intentionally conduct wrongdoing or
criminal intent (but lacking financial incentive).
Eg. Performing a system intrusion to access personally identifiable
information (PII).
The three South African sectors most affected by the past decade’s cyber
incidents were the public, financial, and telecommunications sectors.
