Internet Corruption
What is Internet corruption?
The Internet is a fantastic tool that improves the lives, the businesses, and the education of billions of people worldwide. The Safe Internet AllianceTM was formed to help celebrate the great opportunities the Web offers, while working to reduce the abuses, exploits, and attacks that occur.
We use the phrase “Internet corruption” to encompass the full spectrum of abuses that can occur on online on a variety of Internet connected devices. It includes:
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Why is Internet corruption worsening?
Increasing vulnerability: The explosive growth in people, devices and private information connecting to the Internet represents an exponential increase in vulnerabilities that bad actors can exploit, and that users must protect.
Treating symptoms, not causes: The seriousness of specific Internet problems has required many safety and industry groups to focus on unique segments of Internet abuse. The difficulty in tackling the underlying causes of growing Internet corruption has discouraged focus on broader private and public-sector solutions. Yet, focusing on the underlying causes is needed if we are to reach beyond treating symptoms, to improve and increase trust in our online experiences.
Difficulty applying deterrence: There are three key elements that make effective deterrence challenging. 1) The ability for criminals to remain anonymous. 2) The significant gap between criminal’s funding and online capabilities vs. the average law enforcement’s funding and capabilities. Though law enforcement organizations are making heroic efforts, too few have been staffed or trained to pose a significant deterrent to Internet criminals. 3) The global nature of the Web means there are varying laws – and lack of laws – across nations. The lack of cooperation and collaboration across borders means that criminal organizations can too frequently act with impunity. Experience has taught cyber criminals that offense can overcome our defenses, and that cybercrime can have lucrative returns.
Tackling Internet corruption at its roots is going to be a significant challenge, one that we need every law abiding group to support and participate in. United we can turn the tide, divided we will make but small inroads.
Stop Internet CorruptionTM