Hacking attempts in Canada doubled from 1997 to 1998. And one Canadian vulnerability analyst says most Canadian government Web sites have been hacked or compromised. A wealth of how-to information and tools is widely and freely available on the Net. New hacker exploits, or variations of existing exploits, are released at the rate of about 20 per month. Notoriously powerful hacker tools such as Back Orifice, DIRT, and Netbus let the user to remotely control and monitor networked computers, allowing screen and keystroke captures and full access to files.
Anonymity is also relatively easy to obtain.
Other tools let them encrypt e-mail messages, conceal information within messages, and strip out the sender's name, address, and other identifying information. Even without such tools, criminals can effectively cover their tracks by scattering evidence across the Internet, Toddington says. Investigators have to overcome numerous legal and jurisdictional obstacles when hunting down and prosecuting cybercrime. Investigations that cover multiple jurisdictions quickly bog down in legal and procedural complexities. Police agencies face organizational challenges which slow their response to the rapid pace of change.