Trojan horses can also be used covertly by intelligence agencies and there is nothing to prevent cyberwars between hostile nations. The creation of computer viruses and destructive Trojan horse programs should be illegal acts under statutory laws that must attract severe penalties including a custodial sentence. Transmitting viruses or modifying viruses and releasing them under a new guise should attract even more sever penalties and longer custodial sentences. A legal framework, a serious view by the courts and ethics are insufficient even if we have the best of cyber cops. This effort must be topped up by proper security measures.
Computer crime is an international problem requiring a formal system for international cooperation.
Extradition and mutual assistance treaties must be put into place fairly quickly which must necessarily take into account the harmonization of laws in different countries, including establishing some norms in investigating computer crimes and establishing common legal definitions for criminal acts as well as for accidental or negligent misuse of computer systems. All of these changes and improvements must take place with due respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Modern societies are very dependent on computer systems. Medical services, national security, communications, transportation, traffic control, and banking and insurance services are operated on computer systems. The crimes are traditional crimes in new areas of technologies.