The impact on Texas is staggering. In addition to software piracy, the Internet has produced opportunities for those who promote illegal child pornography. Despite its illegality, child pornography has spread throughout the Internet. An estimated 100,000 Web sites are involved in some way with child pornography. Since 1992, U.S. Customs has arrested more than 1,000 individuals for child pornography-related charges.
Computer networks are increasingly susceptible to hackers and cyber-criminals.
According to a survey of computer security officials in corporations, government agencies, medical facilities and educational institutions, eighty-five percent of respondents detected computer security breaches within the last year. And sixty-four percent acknowledge financial losses due to computer breaches. In the coming months, I will chair several Crime Subcommittee Hearings on cyber-crime. These hearings will examine state level and federal level cyber-crime enforcement efforts, including online fraud, child pornography and software piracy. The Subcommittee also will hear testimony from industry officials and a final hearing will focus on legislative remedies.