The hardware technology includes thin clients or Internet appliances, switches, routers, multimedia transmission devices, etc. But it is already very clear that they will bring about profound changes in the way people, businesses, educational institutions, governments, etc. live and do things. Fraudsters have set up Web sites to lure people into buying goods and services, and do not deliver the promised goods and services. Data collection firms have started selling or disseminating data gathered on the Internet about individuals to firms interested in understanding potential customer and purchase behavior profiles, giving rise to concerns about invasion of privacy. Some people gather copyrighted or patented materials of commercial value, and disseminate them without authorization or royalty payments over the Internet.
Hackers intercept and re-route Web access requests.
Fraudsters use the Internet chat rooms and bulletin boards to manipulate stock prices of companies. Pornography sites are some of the most frequently visited sites on the Internet. The debate on whether or not to tax sales on the Internet has been simmering. For example, V chips have been introduced to prevent children from accessing Internet pornography sites. Secure communication protocols, such as the Secure Socket Layer and Secure HTTP protocols, have been developed to make electronic commerce more secure.