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Opinions of Sunday, 13 June 2021

Columnist: Rotimi Onadipe

15 common reason for cybercrime's rapid growth in the modern age

Cybercrime Cybercrime

In today's technology age, cybercrime is an increasingly important topic. We must not shy away from discussing a lasting solution to the menace of cybercrime in our society, particularly among our youths in the primary, secondary and tertiary institution.

According to a report by Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime damages will cost the world $6 trillion annually by 2021. In another report by the University of Maryland, on average, hackers attack 2,244 times a day.

As cybercriminals are getting smarter and more desperate to attack or scam any unsuspecting victim or organisation in today's internet age, we must be informed about the common reasons for the prevalence of cybercrime in this modern age.

This will not only help us to reduce the menace but it will also help us to discover our vulnerabilities before the cybercriminals do and prevent us from future fraud attempts.

Common reasons for the rapid growth of cybercrime in this modern age:

1. Lack of moral education in the curriculum of primary, secondary and tertiary institution.

2. Lack of public awareness on the dangers of cybercrime in society and the world at large.

3. Lack of proper counselling of convicted cybercriminals and other inmates in correctional centres.

4. Most young children are exposed to the internet at the early stages of their lives.

5. Lack of good counselling and rehabilitation facilities for repentant cybercriminals.

6. Lack of internet safety education in the curriculum of primary, secondary and tertiary institution.

7. Most anti-cybercrime agencies are not collaborating with repentant cybercriminals to fight cybercrime.

8. The introduction of the Plea bargain has been abused. It should be reviewed and properly monitored by officials with proven integrity.

9. Most anti-cybercrime agencies are not trained by repentant cybercriminals who have wide experience in cybercrime.

10. Moral education is not given to most officials of anti-cybercrime agencies. This is why most of them collect bribe from cybercriminals and help them to escape justice.

11. Lack of adequate research on cybercrime by the government, non-governmental organisations, anti-cybercrime agencies and other stakeholders.

12. There is no sufficient job for many citizens and many jobless people go into cybercrime as an alternative.

13. Many countries do not provide counselling and rehabilitation facilities for victims of cybercrime. In an attempt to recover their lost money, some victims later become cybercriminals.

14. Most telecom industries are not collaborating with repentant cybercriminals with wide experience in phone and computer hacking.

15. Anti-cybercrime agencies are not sufficient. Cybercriminals are many and they have accomplices in almost every country. This is why they are increasing in number every day.