http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2160793/curbing-cyber-crime-requires 

By Tom Sanders 
at McAfee Avert Labs Day in Mountain View, CA,
vnunet.com 
21 Jul 2006

Cyber crime fighting effort requires an Enron-like scandal to force the 
hand of legislators, the FBI argued today. Only after such an event could 
the necessary reforms be made to allow authorities to effectively battle 
online criminals, special agent Shna Boswell-Crowe with the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation said.

"My personal theory is that computer crime is kind of like white collar 
crime before Enron," Boswell-Crowe said during a presentation at the 
McAfee Avert Labs Day in Mountain View, California

"It hasn't necessarily gone boom. White collar crime used to be the bank 
[employee] who was sifting some money off, or some corporate guy who was 
going to get rich anyway."

"I don't think [cyber crime] has had its day. I there hasn't been 
something that's large enough that there's a large-scale awareness. 
Awareness is increasing, but have we had that large event that makes 
people think: 'This is really bad'?"

Boswell-Crowe complained that, while online crimes are committed within 
seconds, it takes large amounts of evidence to obtain a search warrant.

There also is no clear legislation that defines when adware is installed 
illegally. Unless law enforcement officers are able prove an intent to 
cause harm, botnot operators could easily get away with installing adware 
on computers in his control.

Consumers in the meantime are carrying the burden if they become the 
victim of keyloggers, because technically they have voluntarily given up 
their login and password information.

Boswell-Crowe however added that the agency is making progress in tracking 
down and prosecuting online criminals.

Early cases have mainly involved teenagers who were looking to make a 
quick buck, but forgot to properly clean up their tracks. Tracking down 
professional organised cyber criminals takes more time, but the FBI is 
building cases against such organised groups.

She declined further comment because the bureau does not discuss cases 
before they are brought before a judge.


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