Hackers Likely to Target Federal Government’s Access Cards

A report by Australian Institute of Criminology suggests that cyber criminals will try and take advantage of the proposed access card for health and welfare by the Federal Government, try to manipulate e-passports, and spy on industrial data.

Criminals would change tactics from targeting in a scattered manner to specific individuals and companies, warns the Australian Institute of Criminology report on 'directions in technology crime'. According to the report, there are high chances of targeting the planned access card of the Federal Government.

The report says that users' initial enrolment in a dishonest manner as well as unprotected data will be the areas vulnerable to attacks. Both of these are in relation to the databases supporting the access card, and its computer chip. Criminals might even make attempts to damage the e-passports data security.

The report further says that as businesses outsource operations to foreign lands, or increase exchanges with developing countries, it would become necessary for them to safeguard their information. Weaknesses could creep into overseas software by the activities of corrupt foreign intelligence agencies or offshore employees allowing industrial spying.

Also, as government uses more of advanced technology, danger on online services like tendering and electronic voting would increase. These would become targets of groups intending to disrupt general confidence levels in business and government.

Cyber criminals would use more sophisticated legal defenses, warns the report. They might question the status of electronic evidence or describe them as simply role players.

According to RMIT or Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology's professor for criminal justice, Dr. Julian Bondy, as the area keeps changing rapidly, it becomes difficult for law enforcement bodies and governments to keep up with the pace. ABC News reported this on September 6, 2007.

The trouble is that law has to always catch up with the crime's speed. Since technology races ahead all the time and possibilities of associated crime too spring up, there is often fear of law falling behind, Melbourne added.

With respect to terrorist funding from revenues of technology-enabled crime, the report said that it would grow as a vital area of danger.

Related article: Hackers Redirect Windows Live Search to Malicious Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 9/18/2007