Computer Crimes in the USA Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Computer Crimes in the USA - Article Example   The current legal frameworks, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are also not apt to handle cyber crimes. Until date, the primary thrust of R&D in information technology has been to promote and facilitate e-commerce, rather than to come out with means to discourage cyber crimes (Prosise & Mandia, 2001). In the absence of such intimidating technological deterrents, computer crimes are thriving and proliferating like never before. Phishing, cyberstalking, identity thefts, hacking, computer viruses, and child pornography are some of the most rampant versions of cyber crimes. Computer crimes have turned out to be an obnoxious menace, both within the United States and around the world. As per the credible statistics available for the year 2008, a majority of the cybercriminals have their base within the United States (Consumer Fraud Reporting, 2009). The prime reason for this being that the US has the highest number of internet users in the world. The United Kingdom commanded the second spot, with 10.5 percent of the total computer crimes affiliated to it (Consumer Fraud Reporting, 2009). Other major countries, which are home to a large section of the international cybercriminals, are Nigeria, Romania, the Netherlands and China (Consumer Fraud Reporting, 2009). While identity theft and Phishing happen to be the forte of the US-based criminals, Nigeria mainly abounds in fake online lotteries and money transfers (Consumer Fraud Reporting, 2009).