ABSTRACT
Computer-based crime (i.e., criminal acts committed using computers or where computers hold evidence of a crime) is poorly measured. Unfortunately, few if any solid metrics are available on the incidence, proportion, or impact of illegal Internet uses. Regional computer forensic laboratories run by the FBI in fteen different U.S. regions have experienced rapid, sustained increases in the types, numbers, and quantities of data involved in all criminal activities involving computers.1 The Internet Crime Complaint Center reported a rise of 33% in complaints in the oneyear period ending in early 2009.2 Cybercrime experts meeting in Australia in June 2009 cited growing Internet crime rates, including Internet crimes against children.3 A Washington Post reporter cites some estimates that $100 billion worth of defense industry data have been compromised in the past two years.4 Microsoft reported the rise of botnets (networks of remote-controlled computers in the thousands surreptitiously seized and used by criminals) as zombie attack platforms to launch frauds, denial of service attacks, identity and data theft, and spam.5 McAfee, Symantec, and other computer security vendors cite rising organized online fraud as one indicator of growing Internet crime.6
