What is Cybercrime?

It's complicated. Cybercrime cannot be described by any one word. Just like crime as we know it, cybercrime has many different applications and can occur anytime and anyplace. Identity thieves and other criminals use several different methods, depending on how much they know and what their objective is. Cybercrime is 'crime' involving some sort of a 'computer' or 'cyber' factor.

The Council of Europe's Cybercrime Treaty uses the term 'cybercrime' to identify offenses ranging from criminal activity against data to content and copyright infringement [Krone, 2005]. Others [Zevar-Geese, 1997-98] have stated that the definition is not that confined and include fraud, unauthorized access, child pornography, and cyberstalking. The United Nations have authored the Manual on the Prevention and Control of Computer Related Crime and they include fraud, forgery, and unauthorized access [United Nations, 1995]. Obviously cybercrime comes in many different packages and different types of cybercrime are going to require different defences if your computer is going to be safe.

Internet security software giant Symantec draws from the various definitions of cybercrime and define it as 'any crime that is committed using a computer or network, or hardware device'. Symantec says that 'the computer or device may be the agent of the crime, the facilitator of the crime, or the target of the crime'. The cybercrime may occur just on the computer or in addition to other places. To help us understand this complex group of crimes, Symantec has divided it into two categories and they are Type I and Type II cybercrime

Type I cybercrime contains the following properties:

Typically it is a single event (in the mind of the victim). An example would be when a victim downloads a Trojan horse, without knowing it, and then the horse installs a keystroke logger into his or her machine. Or the victim could receive an e-mail that carries a link to a supposed known entity, but instead it is a link to a hostile website. Type I cybercrime is often enabled by crimeware programs like keystroke loggers, viruses, rootkits or Trojan horses. Software flaws or vulnerabilities will usually provide the anchor that the identity thief/criminal is looking for. An example would be a group of criminals having control of a website and then taking advantage of a vulnerability in a Web browser that would allow them to place a Trojan horse on an un-suspecting persons computer. Type I examples include but are not limited to phishing, theft or manipulation of data services by way of hacking or viruses, identity theft, and bank or e-commerce fraud.

Type II cybercrime includes, but is not limited to cyberstalking and harassment, child predation, extortion, blackmail, stock market manipulation, complex corporate spying and planning/carrying out terrorism. The properties of Type II cybercrime are a set of circumstances etc. that are an on-going series of events where there are repeated interactions with the target. One example is a target being contacted on a social networking site or chat room and because of the calculated time and effort of the criminal, a relationship is formed. Inevitably the target is exploited in a criminal manner. Another example is a group of identity thieves, terrorists or other criminals using hidden messages to communicate in a public forum to plan activities or discuss money laundering locations. Type II cybercrime is usually enabled by programs that are not classified as crimeware where conversations may take place using IM (instant messaging) or files may be shared using FTP.

By:Randy Vezina

Investigating Dog Bite Cases

In most instances of dog bites in California, the dog's owner is held liable. However, in an attempt to avoid liability, and the financial penalties that go along with it, many owners will attempt to deny liability through various methods. Often, these methods will include accusing the victim of provoking the attack, or proving that the dog has never bitten anyone else if the incident happened in a state that uses the "one bite" criteria as law. In states that use the "one bite" law, the victim must prove that the dog has previously bitten someone else. Fortunately, this is not a legal loophole through which Californians have to jump.

If an investigation is necessary, a dog bite attorney can help you locate the best people for evidence to support your case. Someone who is experienced in litigating dog bite cases in California will know the proper avenues to go through for questioning potential witnesses. Any evidence that supports your claim will be beneficial, and anyone who has had experience with the dog could help provide that evidence.

Your dog bite attorney will most likely want to speak with people who have interacted with the dog from its birth. This will include (but will not be limited to) the breeder of the dog, the dog's veterinarian, the kennel or boarding facility where the dog might have been kept, neighbors, delivery truck drivers who have delivered packages to the dog owner's address, and utility workers who might have come into contact with the dog at some point.

Even within the state of California, any evidence gained by your attorney to prove that the dog has attacked another person will help your case in court. Often, victims of dog attacks do not report the incident to animal control or the police department, and careful investigation might be necessary to uncover information about the true disposition of the dog. The "one bite" rule that many states use in litigation is not always fair; the dog could have well bitten someone else previously, without a paper trail as proof of the incident.

You will want to have documented proof as the result of an investigation. Such documents could include complaints to homeowners associations, police reports, animal control reports, or animal behaviorists' records. Additionally, you will want to have copies of any previous files or paperwork relating to previous litigation, or menacing dog petitions. A qualified California dog bite attorney will be able to locate and acquire this information for you to help you fully prepare for your lawsuit.

With California dog bite laws constantly changing, and dog bite litigation in any state often resulting in complicated cases that require in-depth investigation, a dog bite attorney will be your best resource in compiling the information you'll need in court. The more prepared you are in proving that the dog bite incident was not an isolated one, the better your chances are in winning your case. A dog bite attorney who is highly skilled in trying dog bite cases in California will know the steps to take to solidify your case before you bring it to court.

By John Bisnar

Statute of Limitations in Dog Bite Cases

Dog bite victims have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit in court, and that amount of time varies by state. California's statute of limitations for dog bite cases is generally two years from the date of the attack (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code 335.1). This statute of limitations is usually shorter for cases in which a government agency or employee might be held liable for the victim's injuries. An experienced dog bite attorney will be able to counsel you regarding the specific dog bite laws and statutes of limitations in California, and advise you on the amount of time you have in which to file a lawsuit.

Most state laws provide for anywhere from two to six years in their statutes of limitations in dog bite cases in which an individual or company (rather than a government agency) can be held liable. Some states: Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee; only allow one year from the date of the dog bite injury for the victim to file a lawsuit with the courts.

There are a few exceptions to the statutes of limitations imposed by each state, and one of the primary ones relates to the claims of a minor. In many states, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the victim reaches his or her 18th birthday. In these cases, a child could be the victim of a dog bite attack at the age of five, but wait until after his or her 18th birthday to file a claim with the courts.

Other exceptions exist in the statutes of limitations involving dog bite cases in California. When a government agency or employee could be held liable for the dog bite, it is important to file your claim immediately. Victims of dog bite injuries, for which a government entity or employee is liable, may have as little as 60 days from the date of the injury to present a claim to that government entity. It is very important that you have an experienced California dog bite attorney help you with this kind of claim because of the special procedural requirements and substantial content of these claims.

If you have been the victim of a dog bite attack and are unsure of the amount of time you have in which to file a claim, contact an experienced dog bite attorney to help you with your case. Your lawyer will be informed about the applicable statutes of limitations within the state of California regarding dog attack claims, and can guide you through the process of filing your lawsuit.

Protection From Identity Theft Begins Now

Many seek protection from identity theft when it is too late.

They have already compromised their own identity in many different ways, just from their online activities. Protecting your identity should be a preventative measure, not a post action. It is something we all must consider before we ever enter any form of identification of ourselves online.

The identity theft statistics are alarming and on the rise. Just a quick type into any search engine will reveal all the horrors of numerous people who have their entire lives devastated and wiped out right from under themselves because they had not taken the necessary precautions to protect themselves.

What can you do to protect yourself from identity theft?

Never give out your information to anyone over the phone. Phones aren't not secure. You never really know who you are talking to on the other end of the line.

No matter how little the bill or how unneeded you feel that receipt for the meal you bought is, take you receipt with you. Leaving anything like that behind can compromise your financial information and make you a potential target for identity theft.

Shred all important documents once done with them. Don't just throw them in the trash. Think of all the information that is held in your bank statement, your pay stubs or any number of things people commonly throw out without a second thought. Instead ensure all material that contains financial information is shredded. You can pick up a low cost shredder at places like WalMart.

Review your credit report at least once a year to ensure no one is stealing your identity. Nothing is worse than finding out too late that someone has taken your information and used it to destroy your life. Early detection is essential, not only to minimize the damages, but in order to catch the culprit.

Limit the information given on your personal checks. If you can have nothing more then your name and account number do it. Having ones that contain email addresses, street addresses and phone numbers puts you at risk. You need to protect your identity.

And then comes the most important part of protection from identity theft. A nine digit number that should be guarded with your life. Your social security number or social insurance number is from the view of the government, you. Those little numbers can get you a loan, a job, credit, housing and numerous other things. Which means when they are stolen, those numbers can get the offender all those things too. And you get stuck with the bill.

You can also try services like online risk assessment programs. These programs will for a fee tell you exactly how at risk you are for identity theft. A few dollars today can save you hundreds of thousands later, not to mention the pain, trouble and upset of having your identity stolen.

Identity theft prevention begins now. You need to protect yourself and keep yourself safe from identity theft. An ounce of prevention and a few dollars and hours into protection is worth more than anything else in the world when someone has stolen your entire life.

Author: Ed Opperman