| Summary |
Online crime is a major concern for many people today, especially as more and more activities move to the internet. As such, more people are turning to online crime fighters to help protect themselves and their property. Online crime fighters are individuals who work to identify and prevent online crimes, such as identity theft, cyberbullying, and fraud. They may specialize in specific areas, such as computer security, legal and compliance issues, or data protection.
Online crime fighters may take many forms, such as corporate security professionals, law enforcement professionals, or independent consultants. Some of the most common activities of online crime fighters include researching and tracking down cybercriminals, as well as preventing cybercrimes. They may also provide advice, recommendations, and guidance to businesses and individuals who are at risk of becoming victims of online crime.
Online crime fighters may also work with law enforcement agencies or other organizations to help track and prosecute criminals. They may also use the latest technology and forensic techniques to analyze data and identify patterns of criminal activity. Additionally, they may be involved in investigations and testifying in court.
In order to become an online crime fighter, it is important to have knowledge of computer programming, networking and systems administration, as well as an understanding of the legal system and criminal justice. Additionally, online crime fighters must be detail-oriented and organized, in order to identify and prevent online crimes.
Online crime fighters play an important role in keeping individuals and businesses safe on the internet. They help identify and stop cybercrimes, as well as provide guidance and advice to those at risk of becoming victims of online crime. Through their knowledge and expertise, they protect individuals and businesses from becoming victims of cybercrime and help ensure that criminals are prosecuted. Individuals and businesses interested in becoming online crime fighters should research the necessary skills and qualifications needed for the job.
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The Future of Online Crime Fighters
With higher rates of cybercrime and more sophisticated forms of fraud, experienced crime fighters are needed to protect people from malicious online activity. The online crime fighter helps to identify and recover financial losses due to online fraud, identity theft, and other cybercrimes. These crime fighters use their investigative skills to identify the perpetrators, and then work to secure the financial losses and possibly bring charges against the criminal.Increasing Need for Cybercrime Investigators
The demand for online crime fighters is expected to rise as the internet and technology become ever more important in our lives. While some online crimes can be prevented by using secure passwords and other security best practices, some of the most sophisticated forms of online fraud are difficult to detect and prevent. Crime fighters, who are knowledgeable about the latest technology and understand the risks of online activity, are invaluable for businesses, organizations, and individuals who may have been victims of fraud.Becoming an Online Crime Fighter
Crimes fighters need to be knowledgeable about law enforcement and technical security, as well as the different types of fraud and financial crimes. Those interested in becoming an online crime fighter should pursue a degree in a related field, such as criminal justice, computer science, or information system security. Law enforcement experience is also helpful, as it provides a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system, as well as investigative skills.Training & Certifications for Online Crime Fighters
Online crime fighters gain additional certification and training in cybercrime investigation and legal procedures. These certifications can be earned through professional and government organizations and will provide the crime fighter with the knowledge, skills, and credentials to protect people against online fraud and malicious activity.Real-World Impact of Online Crime Fighters
Online crime fighters have a real and lasting impact on the fight against cybercrime. Their work helps to protect people from fraud, theft, and other forms of malicious activity that can cause financial ruin. As more people become aware of the risks of online activity, the demand for skilled crime fighters is expected to grow. With their investigative skills and knowledge of security best practices, these individuals can help protect people and organizations from becoming victims of fraud..Orin Kerr is a bona fide cybercrime veteran. Never mind that he graduated from law school in 1997 and two years later - as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) computer crime section - wrote a manual on cybercrime prosecution.
Now, he's on the George Washington University Law School faculty in Washington, D.C., teaching a cybercrime course and writing a casebook for the subject, which lacks one.
Kerr's fast-moving career mirrors how cybercrime is shooting through the profession and J.D. curriculums. He estimates the tally has jumped from two courses in 1999 to about 35 today, complementing the spread of computer prosecution units to DOJ satellite offices nationally.
It's still a young field, with many professors teaching as adjuncts and a limited circle of experts. Kerr says that will change.
"I think in another two years with new casebooks out there, it makes it easier for a faculty member to pick up the field," he said. "I think within another decade, computer crime courses will expand to most law schools."
Students concur on cybercrime law's prospects, since it differs significantly from traditional criminal or intellectual property law courses.
Peggy Pratscher, who earned her J.D. last year from John Marshall Law School in Chicago and is pursuing an Information Technology LL.M. there, says the cyberfraud seminar she took plumbed how law is evolving on prosecution of modem hijacking, pyramid scams, consumer fraud and other online crimes.
"For instance, who carries the burden for keeping Web sites legal and clean?" she asked. "Is it the Internet service provider? Is it the individual who creates the site? Is it the user?
Those are issues that to a certain point have been litigated, but there's no hard and fast rule, no black letter law."
Kerr says though the foundation is traditional criminal law, computer crime is clearly a niche.
"The fact patterns are so different and the technology is so different that a lot of the legal issues change," he said.
That novelty gives courses an air of entrepreneurship. At the University of Dayton School of Law in Ohio, Susan Brenner's online cybercrime seminar asks students to write a model code of computer criminal law topics. Wesly Alig, who took the seminar and later served as a teaching assistant before graduating last year, says he and classmates were exploring where few attorneys had gone before.
"We use the threaded discussion to study all of the different issues with each other and with the professor and specialists she lined up from around the world," he said.
For the students who would like to pursue cybercrime law as a career, Kerr recommends these courses as a first stab. And he says the DOJ's expansion of cybercriminal prosecuting teams is likely to have a ripple effect in the job market.
"Computer crime cases are sufficiently different from drug cases or gun cases that it's worth having people who specialize in it," he said.
Though many state attorney general or district attorney offices have computer crime specialists, few are large enough to have dedicated units that would bring in recent graduates. That will change slowly but surely, says Abigail Abraham, an Illinois assistant state's attorney based in Chicago.
Alig found that out during his job search, so he is focusing for now on practicing intellectual property law in hopes of landing with DOJ somewhere down the road. Likewise, Pratscher is hoping to eventually translate her cyberlaw experience into a fraud-cracking position with the Federal Trade Commission.
Abraham, who is also an adjunct professor teaching a cybercrime class at the University of Chicago Law School, recommends that students interested in the specialty first build a solid foundation of litigation and trial skills. But taking a cybercrime class now may help today's students stand out later in their careers.
"I don't think that taking a class in law school is likely to catapult you into a position today, but it certainly would be an expression of interest," she said.
This story appeared in the January 2003 edition of The National Jurist, www.nationaljurist.com.
