Combating Cyber Related Crime in South Africa
Author | : Ezeji Chiji Longinus |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 250 |
Release | : 2014 |
ISBN-10 | : OCLC:935210398 |
ISBN-13 | : |
Rating | : 4/5 ( Downloads) |
Download or read book Combating Cyber Related Crime in South Africa written by Ezeji Chiji Longinus and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The global cost of cyber-crime is now estimated to be well over one trillion dollars a year (Norton Symantec study, 2013). Cyber-crime has no regional, national or international boundaries, unlike ordinary crime which has physical and remits boundaries and limits in relation to jurisdiction. The growing problem is that, cybercrime can be committed from any computer system in the world and subsequently making it very difficult to combat. The new broadband and mobile internet network that provide services to the public have given rise to cyber attack. Cyber criminals have intercepted vital and essential government, personal business information online. A number of online userʹs email addresses have been hacked and the information obtained used to perpetrate fraudulent activities. South Africans among other nations have witnessed incidences of cyber-crime victimization and other attacks ranging from cyber bulling, cyber terrorism, cyber warfare, industrial espionage, identity theft, online pornography, hacking, spreading of worms and viruses and Denial of Service, Phishing attacks and cyber stalking. Many people in South Africa have been victimised via social media networks/ wireless network such as I-phone, I-Pods, smart phones, tablets and cell phone that are internet enabled (Sullivan, 2011: 21). This research focuses on combating cyber-crimes. Among the following are the objectives of the research; to ascertain the efforts of the criminal justice system officials on the combating, investigation, prosecution/adjudication and sentencing of cyber related crimes, make contribution towards policing of cyber related crimes especially in South Africa. The researcher made use of qualitative methodology. Unstructured interview was used in collecting data. The researcher met with twelve respondents face to face during data collection process and the data derived was analysed in the findings. The following are the findings of the research; there is shortage of criminal justice experts who are knowledgeable in handling cyber related cases, especially in the area of prevention, investigation, prosecution/adjudication and sentencing of cyber-crime in South Africa. The law/Legislation used in prosecution of cyber related crime in South Africa is too lenient and cannot deter or checkmate cyber criminals. Cyber-crimes are not reported often to the authorities by victims due to ignorance while vi some organizations do not report cyber-attacks to protect the reputation of their organizations. The researcher recommends that the criminal justice structures give its officials specialised training to be one step ahead of the cyber criminals. In addition, new law/legislation with regards to prosecution of cyber-crime should be enacted and or old ones updated to reflect current issues.