Blog #11: Cybercrime to surge over Easter

   As I was searching for current events on crime this week, I noticed that there were more articles on cybercrime than usual. While searching, I came across the article, “Cybercrime to surge over Easter,” by Tanya Wateworth, which explained my questioning on why cybercrime was so current this week. In this article it discusses how cybercrime rate are expected to heavily increase over this Easter weekend in South Africa. It also discusses that over the past holidays, Christmas and soon to be Easter, there has been a growing trend in cyber attacks. With not as many people at work during these holidays, businesses are more susceptible because money can easily be transferred, making it almost impossible to trace who he criminal was. In order for this article to find statistics, they used the PWC 2011 survey, which offered them a lot of insights on cybercrime and economic crime. “Cybercrime is easier to commit compared to ‘traditional’ crime as it takes place from a remote location, leaves no physical traces or clues at the scene and there is less risk of injury.” This quote shows that since the Internet is used widely around the world and using the Internet can perhaps be secretive, it is quite easier for criminals to commit cybercrime rather than committing any other crime.
    This article is significant because it is informing and alerting businesses and people around the world that over this Easter weekend cybercrime is going to surge. Even thought it says it is expected to happen in South Africa, this is going to affect people and businesses all over the world. Cybercrime works across borders, making an increase in South Africa effect the whole world. It is important that alerts such as these are broadcasted somehow so that appropriate precautions can be taken. Once people around the world have been alerted with the possible surge of cybercrimes over this holiday weekend, precautions can be taken by businesses and people around the world and could possibly prevent such a large increase in cybercrime.

http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/technology/security/cybercrime-to-surge-over-easter-1.1268518