Cybersecurity | IT Protection | Cyberspace
Cybercriminals fish for sensitive company data or paralyze computer systems of entire companies in order to blackmail them. But what exactly makes the Internet so interesting as a crime scene?
The radius of action on the Internet is enormous. Data is transmitted to faraway countries in the shortest possible time without being stopped at borders. Systems can be controlled and changed from the other side of the world. It is precisely this advantage that criminals use to safely attack attractive targets worldwide and evade prosecution for as long as possible.
There is no regulation of access to cyberspace in most countries. Many people have the opportunity to move around the virtual world comparatively easily and inexpensively via computer or mobile phone. The Darknet contains numerous instructions on how to penetrate foreign computer systems. Alternatively, professional hackers can be bought. This is associated with significantly less effort and risk than a personal break-in into a company.
It is extremely difficult or even impossible to trace actions on the Internet back to its originator if the author takes appropriate precautions. The identities of the perpetrators are easy to conceal and some actions are difficult to classify. This advantage is facilitated by low resources and a lack of young talent in the cyber units of law enforcement agencies.
Another point is the great dependence of the economy on cyberspace. We have developed into a digital society whose communication, processes, control, information and system depend to a large extent on the smooth functioning of information technology devices. Hardly any information in computer systems is not connected to the Internet by a few detours. This makes us susceptible to blackmail, and if security precautions are insufficient, cybercriminals have an easy time.
