Swatting -- Another New Form of Harassment On Rise

By David Simms, Senior Contributor
The Global Institute for Cyber Safety and Standards

A new trend in cyber harassment is something called swatting. This assault occurs when a harasser anonymously files a false police report such as a bomb threat, murder, or other crime in progress for the purpose of provoking the police to raid a victim’s home or business. Although it is considered a harmless way to have “fun” by many younger people, they are in for a sore surprise as it has recently cost one teenager much more than he bargained for. 15-year-old Paul Horner broke down in tears after a judge found him guilty on two counts of domestic terrorism and was sentenced to twenty-five years to life in a United States prison. He is the first person in history to be charged with swatting. In this case, he was found guilty of calling in multiple false threats against rival internet gamers, all resulting in police action that placed individuals in harms way as raids were carried out.  

Swatting is a new fad among gamers targeting those who broadcast themselves and their game play live over the internet to game rivals. It is common for online games to become very competitive, often leading to escalating adverse behaviours. If an internet harasser is able to obtain personal information of their rival or anyone they have a problem with, such as locating their IP and residential address, they will call in a dangerous threat to law enforcement and watch, if possible, on webcams as the victim’s house is forcibly entered by police. Law enforcement agencies say the crime, which has been happening with greater frequency since 2013, wastes valuable resources and places innocent people at risk. Unfortunately, this crime has gone largely unpunished, a fact which seems to encourage more of the same behaviours. However, with the prosecution of the teenager in the above mentioned case, it is sending the message that people will be held substantially accountable for their digital actions.

Phishing Has Surpassed Financially Oriented Aims

By David Simms, Senior Contributor

The Global Institute for Cyber Safety and Standards

The familiar topic of Phishing has gained a higher profile in the world of cyber-stalking and for good reason. This online crime is a form of social engineering in which the attacker attempts to acquire sensitive information from a victim by insidiously charading as a harmless third party. Internet users need to be alert and aware that this is a particularly dangerous type of cyber-stalking in that it can initially appear overwhelmingly innocuous. Such attackers aim to craft the most convincing illusion that they can be trusted, often posing as sympathetic friends or even as legitimate-looking businesses or professionals. They then use acquired information to begin or further escalate a cyber-harassment attack. Often the end result is the extortion of money, blackmail, or simply humiliating and shaming a victim to the outcome of suicide. Sometimes a phisher will use urgent warnings or project themselves as trying to protect the target by giving false information of an impending threat or attack. In any case, these menacing individuals are devious and ultimately will deceive, take from, harm, or damage a victim to acquire gain.

It is important for people to understand that Phishing has been traditionally associated as a cyber-crime term with offenders primarily going after banking information, passwords, and credit cards. Most of us already know to be on high alert when receiving emails or attachments requesting we furnish our private details. However, Phishing has surpassed such financially oriented aims and adapted into a lethal form of cyber-harassment and stalking. Both sides of this coin need discussing.

Post Code Lottery in the UK?

By David Simms, Senior Contributor

In the United Kingdom, there have been many reports suggesting that the authorities do not crack down equally on cyber-crime depending on the region. The large disparity in support and interest taken by law enforcement has led many citizens to begin calling the situation a ‘post-code lottery’ despite clear national ordinances addressing the issue for all communities. The general consensus seems to be that the police are not interested at all in cases of online harassment. Maybe this is because, with the current state of the system, cyber cases are still very difficult to prosecute.

Law enforcement in different countries has been dealing with crime in a traditional sense for so long it appears some are slipping behind the times.  Along with development of new technologies, there has been a social evolution taking place at an exponential rate.  This means that crimes and the way they are committed, are changing faster than society or law enforcement can deal with effectively. When the nature of crime changes as it has with the growth of the internet, law enforcement must accommodate accordingly. The fact is, law enforcement has the means to identify, apprehend and prosecute cyber offenders but they are still operating to a large degree within a system that is outdated. It is also a fact that officials in current decision-making positions are from an older generation accustomed to dealing with things a particular way. This can be a source of hindrance and constraint for officers on the ground. 

We live in a world where technology can easily become obsolete within 6 months so it critical that our protectors stay current and equipped with the latest technology available but just as importantly, that they are educated and knowledgeable about the way criminals think in today’s world.  

Revenge Porn

By David Simms, Senior Contributor

One of the more disturbing aspects of online harassment is what they call revenge porn. Revenge porn is the posting or sharing online of sexually illicit photos or video of someone. The vast majority of these cases are based on relationships that have come to an end leaving hard feelings with one or both participants. In most cases women are the subject of most revenge porn campaigns but men can fall victim depending on the circumstances. Revenge porn is often used as leverage in blackmail crimes. There are many case where photos of a person did not involve a relationship per se, rather were intended to be included in a professional portfolio or used as a therapeutic tool. A 22 year old girl in the UK had private pictures taken for her own viewing as a self-image therapy. The pictures were stolen and dispersed around the internet. The company posting the photos wanted to charge her a price she could not afford, to take them down. 

It is common for hackers to obtain photos with intent to extort money from a victim. Public figures are especially at risk to this but it is the relationships gone bad, that comprise the majority of cases. In a related matter, people who have their picture taken as a mugshot due to being arrested, may have their photo posted on a public sites.  Although this is perfectly legal to do, it can cause extreme embarrassment for a person.  When they go to the website hosting the photos, they are commonly given the choice of paying a steep fee to have the picture removed or not paying and having it remain on the web. There are several web-based companies who make their living exploiting mugshots and other acquired media of victims, a practice that is purely despicable. 

Nations which have passed laws against revenge porn include Israel, Britain, Germany, and several states in the United States. Although illicit media can be mortifying for those targeted in countries such as the United States, it can be deadly for those in other regions of the world where gender cultural practices are vastly different. For example, if a woman’s pictures are posted in a country like Iran, she could be put to death. This raises the stakes for women in these cultures making them extremely vulnerable. Crimes of this nature are rarely reported in the mainstream media and therefore go unnoticed by most people.  This gives a false sense that revenge porn is something merely causing embarrassment when it is something much more sinister and lethal. 

Fighting Cyber Crime

By David Simms, Senior Contributor

It is always inspiring to see attempts at forging new and meaningful laws to fight against cyber-crimes. The lines are typically drawn in the sand between those wanting to crack down on cyber criminals holding them accountable while making them stop their destructive activity on the internet and those complaining that privacy rights of citizens will be surrendered. Canada is in the midst of such a debate now. Some lawmakers are attempting to pass a bill that makes cyber criminals accountable for their actions by allowing law enforcement to identify and pursue them.  It has unfortunately spurred the expected backlash among groups of citizens and journalism institutions.

The backlashers are concerned about their government gaining too much control if the law is enacted because it would allow law enforcement the right to track and record information on any individual they deem suspect.  Journalists worry they might be targeted if they happen to cross the line with sensitive topics, placing constraints on their ability to do accurate and proper reporting. Those in favor of the bill say that cyber criminals must be hit hard, and where it counts. Keeping the existing status quo will do nothing but encourage the growing problem.  It is feared that if laws are not created to curb internet harassment, the already damaging activity will continue to spiral out of control.

If bills like the one in Canada are voted down, it sends the message loud and clear to those perpetrating their cyber hate, to continue doing it.  It implies everyone has the right to hurt others as they deem fit, even if it causes loss of life.  In this case, the media’s interests happen to greatly benefit cyber criminals. They are using their medium to drum up an exaggerated public perception that the law would be a step toward unwarranted privacy invasion by the government. 

As the new congressional cycle is about to begin, we should be praying and supporting those in favor of this bill.  Cyber criminals need something to be scared of.

Creating Mentors

By David Simms, Senior Contributor

Since the dawning of the digital age, computer technology and now the blossoming internet have come so far. Unfortunately along with its splendor and wonder, we must also accept the monumental amount of negativity and hate that is regularly rippled throughout the fabric of cyberspace. Hate that erodes away the integrity of the human spirit.  Though we may not be ourselves victims directly, we can still be affected by the mere observation of damage happening to others. We all lose! Cyber harassment, bullying, stalking, hate, are all aspects of the larger category of cybercrime.  These crimes are executed at more elevated rates than has ever been seen and on a wider scope than has ever been seen.  The problem has exploded internationally reaching to nearly all communities.  It is for this reason the Global Institute was created. It is a work dedicated to providing not only a safe haven for those under attack but also an opportunity for those with heart, to become involved and give of themselves to help fellow brothers and sisters. We have been working to consolidate information from a multitude of countries to our website in an effort to show the world it is not an isolated problem. Although every country has its own set of laws, constraints, cultural challenges, economic challenges, and so forth, there is value in sharing each other’s challenges, so that we can find a common thread and common identity. It is only then that it can be fully addressed and conquered. 

The problem of cybercrime is happening everywhere. Therefore communities and individuals need the tools to protect and heal themselves before they can then move to help others. It is our goal to write so that people will see, speak so that people will hear, and educate so that they will do. Our mentorship program was established for this purpose. Mentors possess the training to help victims of cyber-crime where it matters. We try to align victims with mentors sharing similar cultural backgrounds however, it is not always necessary as the crimes of cyber-hate transcend culture. To our fortune, we have been blessed with wonderful resources and exceptional individuals who are committed to training our mentors. To these incredible people we owe much and it is through them that our faith in humanity is regained.  It is our sincere desire that you join us if not as a mentor, as a supporter of what we stand for.

By Carolyn Davies, Contributing Content Blogger

A short clip educating on the concept of cyber stalking.