Computer misuse offences encompass a range of offences, with a number of hacking methods and malicious programs available, requiring varying degrees of technical prowess and causing different levels of damage. A variety of motives lies behind the attacks and not all hackers and virus writers pose the same threat. NCIS assesses that Internet fraud is an emerging threat that will increase significantly in the coming years, albeit from a low base. Poorly designed and controlled electronic payment systems would pose a serious risk to law enforcement efforts to counter money laundering operations. However, well-designed and effectively controlled systems might well be positively unattractive to money launderers, and might even divorce their cash flows from the legitimate marketplace, thus offering opportunities for identification.
Software piracy is a boom business.
The experience of the software industry is likely to be a harbinger of the troubles ahead for the phonographic and video industries. E-mail harassment will increase as Internet usage grows. Paedophiles are using the Internet to disseminate child pornography, to market videos and magazines for commercial sale, to promote opinions seeking to rationalise and legitimise sexual fantasies about children and sexual encounters with them, and to solicit children. International law enforcement operations have had some notable successes in catching offenders. Users heeding the warning of 'buyer beware' and organisations implementing and observing appropriate information security policies, will help to minimise the threats faced.