That investigation revealed how networked computers are both an ally and an enemy of law enforcement, Painter says. Locating the source requires tenacity and technical know-how. We have them, not in great abundance, but we have them. He concedes that the government cannot investigate and prosecute every computer-related crime. We are sending a message that this conduct will not be tolerated, and that we will catch people and lock them up.
Word spreads quickly on the Internet, so when somebody gets caught, others know it.
His new position at DOJ gives him more opportunities for fighting computer crime. As this area of law enforcement becomes increasingly important, we're going to need more and more resources and more training, and I'm in a position now to have some say in making that happen.