Week-3 Scholarly WritingReview the document, How to Benefit from.docx

Week-3 Scholarly Writing
Review the document, How to Benefit from Critiques of Your
Work, located under your weekly resources.
Spotlight on Skills: Information Literacy: Finding what you
need in the library
In this and other courses you need to find information, usually
scholarly articles from the library, to support your learning
activity. View the Northcentral Search Like an Expert Tutorial,
located under your weekly resources, to learn how to Search
like an Expert and find what you need efficiently in the vast
holdings of the Northcentral Library. It is well worth your time!
Assignment
Your task this week is to locate two peer-reviewed articles in
the NCU library that discuss current research on the topic
addressed in your Week 2 assignment.
You will evaluate the two new articles as part of your Week 4
assignment. Make sure you save either the doi/permalink from
the NCU library, or a copy of the articles you locate because
you will need to provide either the links or those copies to your
faculty along with your paper in Week 4.
In locating your articles, you may find it helpful to determine a
more specific idea within the general topic that will help guide
your research, not only for your Week 5 assignment, but also
for other papers you will prepare later in the course.
Length: 2 research articles
You do not need to submit any documents this week.
US POLICIES ON TWO TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES, ILLICIT

DRUG
TRAFFICKING AND CYBER-LAUNDERING, WILL NOT
SECURE THE
HOMELAND FROM TERRORIST THREATS
A Master Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty
of
American Public University
by
First Name Last Name
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
of
Master of Arts
April 2012
Charles Town, WV

1
A wealth of academic literature on transnational crimes has
increased over the past decade.
In particular, illicit drug trafficking and cyber-laundering, are
two of the most active crimes that
are being utilized to support terrorist organizations. The first of
the resources for this research
paper comes from Jay S. Albanese’s 2012 Deciphering the
Linkages between Organized Crime
and Transnational Crime from the Journal of International
Affairs, Volume 66, Issue 1. The
significance of this particular literature is that it provides
characteristics of organized crimes and
transnational crimes which is important for this study. The
review of this literature highlights the
linkage between organized crimes and transnational crime while
making the point clear that the
two are distinctively separate. By having a sound
understanding in the particulars are critical as
US policies are reviewed and discussed for analysis throughout
the research. The root conduct
of both organized crime and transnational crime parallels each

other according to studies. A
synopsis of this literature provides distinct differences between
transnational crimes and
international crimes in that transnational crime are those crimes
leading to or resulting in
individual profit. One of three elements, if not two or all three,
may exists during the
identification of transnational crimes. The elements are illegal
substances, the arrangement for
illegal labor, and or penetration of either commercial or
government businesses operations.
Additionally, the literature characterizes international crimes as
those crimes that involves crimes
against humanity that sometimes includes several countries.
There are three classifications of
transnational crimes, Provision of Illicit Goods; Provision of
Illicit Services; and Infiltration of
Business or Government. Studies have shown that the existence
of transnational crime is nothing
new. These crimes have in fact existed for many decades and
there has been little to no change
in them; but, the innovative technology has advance the means
in which these crimes are
executed.

Another literature review provides an in-depth concern for
political officials. John Rollins
and Liana Wyler convey these concerns clearly in their 2010
article International Terrorism and
Transnational Crime: Security Threats, U.S. Policy, and
Considerations for Congress. The
literature adds value to the research because the recognition of
political disconnects and law gaps
that terrorist organizations exploit are highlighted. In this report
to Congress there are
conceivable strains between counterterrorism and anti-crime
policy objectives; to include, the
usefulness of financial intelligence in fighting the crime-
terrorism nexus. (Rollins and Wyler
2010, 12)
2
Gilipowski W. Paraschiv’s 2013 Conceptualizing
Transnational Organized Crime:
Economic, Management, and Financial Markets, Volume 8,
Issue 2, is an eye opening piece of

literature. The purpose for inserting this literature within the
research is to exclusively bring to
the forefront the enormous amount of resources and assets that
it will take to unify the
international community in order for US policies to be more
effective. A clear synopsis of this
literature supports other areas of research in making it clear that
the boundaries of transnational
organized crimes are nonexistence. The article provides an
understanding to how the
international community realizes that transnational organized
crime is a common threat while
highlighting the division in international law and policies.
Additionally, the article highlights
transnational organized crime having developed in various
countries throughout the world;
subsequently, making this emergence a phenomenon. The
literature illustrates the political
influence throughout the international community that makes
US policies vulnerable. For an
example, Asia’s footprint consists of multiple loop holes added
with corruption and a lack of
effective governance. Without a clear definition or
understanding to distinguish between gangs

and organized crime, the political initiatives could have
challenges. If there is not an objective to
influence politicians to establish judicial authority at the
national level to combat organized
crime, many efforts to minimize this baseline that influences
transnational crime will be doomed
at the start. The size and growth of transnational crime cannot
truly be determined because the
crime groups often establish and maintain contingent ties with
each other. Worthy to note is the
hierarchical structure described in this article that clearly
articulates the complexity in
comprehending the international community’s ability to fight
and stop transnational crime, the
global threat impact of transnational crime, and the business
and economic dimensions of these
crimes. (Paraschiv 2013, 173-178)
The Congressional Research Service describes various
patterns that parallels to interaction
among terrorist groups leading to transnational security issues.
In recognition of these activities,
the US Congress continues to respond with policies in attempts
to remain abreast with the rapid

changing environment in Terrorism and Transnational Crime:
Foreign Policy Issues for
Congress by John Rollins and Liana Wyler, 2013. US global
security interests are threatened by
transnational crimes and to this extent, in 2011 President
Obama issued the Strategy to Combat
Transnational Organized Crime. Although, the US security
strategies maybe multidimensional
3
in focusing on citizen security and dismantling illicit networks,
the support from governments
throughout the international community is needed. The
literature is significant and support the
research in defining the complexity to establish policies to
support the people to carry out
strategic objectives that are identified within this study, starting
at the top of the political stage.
In Congress charge to evaluate the current policies and practices
in determining if the US is
synchronized in effectively fighting transnational crimes, the
committee realizes that the

conceptualization of transnational crime will require
interagency coordination with international
cooperation. Adding to the challenge of loyalty and total
commitment is geographic regions and
politics. Clapper’s testimony to Congress in 2012 emphasized
that illicit networks have been
fundamental in the growth of transnational crimes that has led
to profitable terrorist networks;
subsequently, increasing the threats to US national security.
The research study focuses on two specific transnational
crimes, illicit drug trafficking and
cyber-laundering. The first of several literature reviews to
support this research study in the area
of illicit drug trafficking is a thorough analysis of US drug
policy by David Boyum and Peter
Reuter in 2005, An Analytic Assessment of US Drug Policy.
The review of this literature
supports the claims that policies targeting the prohibition of
drugs are universally ineffective.
The constant development of illicit drugs and its distributions
are staying ahead of policies and
counterdrugs programs designed to combat such activity.
Although drugs growth in quantity are
geographically limited, the sophistication involved in

establishing an illicit transnational drug
trafficking network makes the fight against these crimes more
challenging. Another key point to
highlight from the review is that US policies along with tougher
laws will not materially reduce
the use or illegal sale of drugs. The study within this literature
exclusively discusses the need for
drug treatment services that is in short supply. The ability to
treat drug users is a key aspect in
fighting the war on drugs; however, some US policies do not
address the root issue or concern.
The absence of US policies to target this area is a gap requiring
lawmakers and politicians
attention. The identified gap contributes to the research
findings and establish ground for later
discussions.
Drug Policy in Understanding America: The Anatomy of a
Exceptional Nation by Jonathan
P. Caulkins and Mark A. R. Kleiman, 2008, highlights the
counterdrug initiatives carried out by
the US. The literature supports the study in many ways; but,
specifically in such a way to
magnify discussions surrounding US policies. In accordance to
this literature, the US fight on

4
illicit drugs has led to more arrest and imprisonments than its
European partners. A sense of
relevancy is established in this literature that aid the
conceptualization of illegal drug trafficking.
The US parallels countries like Columbia and Nigeria in
comparison to its severe drug problem.
The literature focuses many efforts on comparing the US with
other countries throughout the
world to highlight the use of illicit drugs. The results of studies
performed are anything less than
stunning. Combating the trafficking of transnational illicit drug
exhausts many US resources that
include equipment, money, and people. Before the US could
actually identify the chaos
associated with its leading illicit drug, cocaine, Americans
embraced the illicit drug before its
exposures. Other countries simply watch the effects that it took
throughout the US before trying
the drug. To this extent, other countries did not have the
capability in availability for cocaine.

The US have large Colombian immigrants communities in
Florida and New York and with so
much legal trade occurring in these areas, the literature suggests
that the capability to effectively
hide the illegal trafficking of cocaine is almost seamless.
The Congressional Research Service study focusing on the
illegal drug trade in Africa has
direct ties to the US policies designed to combat illicit
transnational drugs trafficking. The
majority of the illicit drug growth and trafficking in Africa is
directed towards South America
and European countries according to Liana S. Wyler and
Nicolas Cook in their 2009
congressional research Illegal Drug Trade in Africa: Trends and
U.S. Policy. However, other
illegal products such as heroin and precursors required to make
illicit drugs do enter the various
borders of the US. The issue that is revealed in the literature is
the threat to US policy and its
interests both at home and abroad. Because of the enormous
illegal drug production
environments throughout the western portion of Africa, US
policies combating transnational

illicit drug trafficking faces an uphill battle. The challenge
becomes even more complex when
terrorist organizations occupy various parts of the region for
safe havens. Additionally, the
revelations of US policies being in its early stages or formative
stages are exposed during this
study. The study further suggests that there is not a solid
commitment or coordination on roles
from both the US and the international community’s
counternarcotic agencies.
Continued support that suggests the US policies for
combating illicit drug trafficking are
ineffective comes from a review of the updated 2006
Congressional Research Service Report for
Congress, International Drug Trade and U.S. Foreign Policy by
Raphael F. Perl. The literature
discusses the rise in production of opium, marijuana, and coca.
Subsequently, a key point that
5
relates to this study is the emphasis of concern relating to
incontrollable consumption that

contributes to further discussions throughout the research. In
pursuit to establish the perfect anti-
drug control policies, the US finds itself in a political storm that
results from contradictions of
national policy interests. The relevance of this literature to the
study is significant because the
findings proves invaluable in that the links between drug and
terrorist organization are brought to
the forefront. Additionally, another gap in US policy is
exposed that sets the stage for follow on
discussions throughout the research. The multiple programs
that are discussed within this
literature contributes to the confirmation of findings relative to
this research study.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) describes the
greatest cyber threats to be the
illegal acquiring of assets, sensitive data such as economic
information or military classified
intelligence. Gordon M. Snow’s 2011 article, Federal Bureau of
Investigation: The cybersecurity
threat, focuses on the cyber threats to the US private sector,
supply chain, and critical
infrastructure. The article suggests that the US critical
infrastructure will not be 100% intrusion

free; thereby, always being available for anyone with the ability
and means to gain access. There
are tremendous economic losses resulting from cyber threats.
Although, the FBI constantly
changes its methods in dealing with cybercrimes, so does
terrorist organizations. Innovation of
new cyber technology improves national and international
relations. Unfortunately, this same
advance technology becomes available or can be gain through
illicit means by terrorist
organizations. The article clearly make a point to address the
theft of intellectual property and
supply chain issues that can be interrupted by terrorist
organizations. The threat, although
specifically discussed targeting US interests, is not an isolated
threat for one nation. The
growing cyber threat is an international issue with
improvements in the availability and the
ingenuity placed in creating malicious software that makes
current national security policies an
issue. Transnational crimes such as cyber laundering can be
hidden through multiple layers of
cyber access points created by automation increase
requirements. Another issue is that with

internal support given to adversaries by recruiting business and
intellectual individuals, as
suggested by the article, the damages caused by cybercrimes
will continue to grow, making it
impractical to calculate. Information gained from this article
contributes to further analysis of
US policies targeting cyber-laundering.
Lieutenant Colonel John W. Brennan’s 2012 literature
United States Counter Terrorism
Cyber Law Policy, Enabling or Disabling recognizes the need
for political lawmakers and
6
national decision-makers to place emphasis on the modification
to current US policies. This
study was conducted to determine if US counter terrorism cyber
laws and policies were enabling
or disabling government initiatives to counter the fight on
terrorism in cyberspace. There appear
to be no optimization on the use of national counter terrorism
assets according to the study; to
include, a lack of policies update that are designed to

effectively support government officials.
Although there are US strategies such as the 2011 International
Strategy for Cyber Space, the
study emphasizes the need to initiate a comprehensive sourcing
for domestic and international
law. The failure to take these actions will continue to hinder
the professionals from performing
their jobs effectively whom are the very ones the strategy is
designed to support. The gap that is
created resulting from inconsistencies between national
security, counter terrorism and its cyber
strategies, and the laws and policies currently established
enables terrorist organizations to
occupy and operate cybercrimes successfully; including, cyber
laundering. The review of this
document increases the awareness of US policies that are not
fully supported by domestic or
international law.
A 2008 report to Congress by Clay Wilson, Botnets,
Cybercrime, and Cyberterrorism:
Vulnerabilities and Policy Issues for Congress, reveals the
modernization and sophistication of
cybercrime. The report supports this research in that evidence
is provided that support gaps

within current US policies targeting cyber-laundering.
Additionally, the literature specifically
bridges the two researched transnational crimes, illicit drug
trafficking and cyber-laundering.
The article points out the fact that normal business practices for
some IT business consists of
developing more advance computer codes for the sole purpose
to be utilized for cybercrimes.
The illicit profits are recognized as being extraordinary.
Modern technologies continue to
surpass policy for law enforcement. Complications of
coordination among agencies of different
nations, also with clashing national policies about crime in
cyberspace, cultivate to the benefit of
cybercriminals who can select to function from geographic
locations where penalties may not
exist for some forms of cybercrime. Value is added to the
research with the insertion of specifics
from this literature because it magnifies the complexities that
must be taken into consideration
during the establishment of new US policies or the modification
of current US policies.
Cyber-laundering techniques that are utilized by criminals or
terrorist organizations are

discussed in Wojciech Filipkowski’s 2008 article Cyber
Laundering: An Analysis of Typology
and Techniques. The purpose of this literature is to add
examples and highlight symptoms of
7
cyber laundering. Additionally, facts and evidence revealed in
this literature substantiate many
claims within this research. Policies and laws that are tailored
to human beings may exist in both
the physical natural environment and the cyber environment.
Unfortunately, the authority to
enforce policies and laws amongst digital profiles in the cyber
environment is not a simple task.
The ability to exchange or transfer currency in a digital
environment swiftly, easily, securely,
and mostly anonymously are all great attributes of the use of the
Internet. The issue arise in the
increase use of these same attributes by terrorist organizations
for both illicit drug trafficking and
illicit cyber-laundering.

8
Bibliography
Albanese, J. (2012) Deciphering the Linkages between
Organized Crime and
Transnational Crime. Journal of International Affairs, Vol

66(Issue 1), pp. 1-16
Bahgat, G. (1999) Iran and Terrorism: The Transatlantic
Responses. Studies in Conflict
&Terrorism. 22(2), 141-152. doi:10.1080/105761099265801
Brennan, J. (2012) United States Counter Terrorism Cyber Law
and Policy, Enabling or
Disabling? Retrieved from
http://nsfp.web.unc.edu/files/2012/09/Brennan_united-states-
counter-terrorism-
cyber-law-and-policy.pdf
Boyum, D. and Reuter, P. (2005) An Analytic Assessment of
U.S. Drug Policy.
Washington, DC. Aei Press.
Caulkins, J. and Kleiman, M. (2008) Drug Policy in
Understanding America: The
Anatomy of a Exceptional Nation, eds Peter H. Schuck & James
Q. Wilson, 563-
953. New York: Public Affairs
Costanza, W. (2001) Hizballah and its Mission in Latin
America.
Cyber Laundering: The Risks to On-line Banking and E-
Commerce Companies.

Retrieved May 29, 2008 from Stop money laundering!
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Doyle, C. (2002) The USA PATRIOT Act: A Legal Analysis.
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Ephron, D., Reno, J., Sparks, J., & Hosenball, M. (2006)
Hezbollah’s Men Inside
America. Newsweek, 148(7), 24-25
Filipowski, W. (2008). Cyber laundering: An analysis of
typology and techniques.
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1), pp. 15-27, doi:
ISSN: 0973-5089
Finckenauer, J., and K. Chin. “Asian Transnational Organized
Crime and Its Impact on
the United States.” Final report for the National Institute of
Justice, Washington,
DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice,
2006, NCJ 213310.
Finklea, K. and Theohary, C. (2013). Cybercrime: Conceptual
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Hathaway, O., Crootof, R., Levitz, P., Nix, H., Nowlan, A.,
Perdue, W. and Spiegel, J.
(2011). The Law of Cyber-Attack. Retrieved from
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Paraschiv, G. (2013). Conceptualizing Transnational Organized
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ISSN 1842-3191
Perl, R. (2006). International Drug Trade and U.S. Foreign
Policy. Retrieved from
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the Congressional
Response. Retrieved from
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Rollins, J. and Wyler, L. (2013). Terrorism and transnational
crime: Foreign
policy issues for congress. Retrieved from
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/R41004.pdf
Rollins, J. and Wyler, L. (2010). International Terrorism and
Transnational
Crime: Security Threats, U.S. Policy, and Considerations for
Congress. Retrieved
from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/R41004-2010.pdf
Saint-Claire, S. (2011). Overview and Analysis on Cyber
Terrorism. Retrieved from
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2.pdf
Snow, G. (2011). Federal Bureau of Investigation: The
cybersecurity threat.
Retrieved from
http://www.fbi.gov/news/testimony/cybersecurity-responding-
to-
the-threat-of-cyber-crime-and-terrorism
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Environmental Scan. Retrieved May 29, 2008 from the
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rap/1998/wd98_9-dt98_9/wd98_9.pdf
The White House. (2010). Cyberspace Policy Review: Assuring
a trusted and resilient
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Communication, Command, and
Control by Extremists. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, Vol
22(Issue 3), pp. 231-
245, doi: 10.1080/105761099265748
Wilson, C. (2008). Botnets, Cybercrime, and Cyberterrorism:
Vulnerabilities and Policy
Issues for Congress. Retrieved from
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Wyler, L. & Cook, N. (2009). Illegal Drug Trade in Africa:
Trends and U.S. Policy
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1
13
Do not put page number on your title page. Remove your last
name from the header.
WHAT ARE THE METHODS THAT CAN BE EMPLOYED TO
REDUCE THE THREAT TO THE NATION’S CYBER
SYSTEMS
A Master Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty
Comment by Chris: Change to “of”.
Of
By
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the degree
Comment by Chris: Change to “of”.
Of
Master of Arts
March 2016
Charles Town, WV

Ahmad, R. & Yunos, Z. A dynamic cyber terrorism framework.
International Journal of Computer Science and Information
Security, 10(2), 149-158.
Contrary to traditional warfare, today's battlefield go beyond
national borders since cyber space has increased the scope.
Even the most important department the nation’s security, the
defense, is under constant threat from terrorists. Enemies of the
US are devising ways of cracking down the country’s valued
information system especially the Defense Department.
The availability of hacking tools has increased over time as well
as the quality. Unlike the weapons of conventional warfare,
tools for cyber warfare are accessible and undergoing constant
sophistication. As a matter of fact, a country or organization
with limited technology, staff, and funding and defense
infrastructure is able to wreak havoc on short notice from any
region in the world. As a matter of fact, there have been cases
of attacks on the nation’s defense information systems, stock
exchange among others. Subsequently, the US security
departments should remain sober through so as to protect
citizens at all times.
Brenner, Susan W. Cybercrime. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger,
2010.
The author explains what cyber-crime is, and the need for
everyone to be concerned about it, including the common
citizen computer, is either used as a tool or target in cyber
criminality. Furthermore, cyber-crime has not only led to a
relatively new form of crime but has also led to the

transformation of committing traditional crimes. The only
effective way of fighting cybercrime is waging a common battle
involving all stakeholders; the public, law enforcement, private
and public sectors as well as regional and international allies.
Given the increased global interconnectedness today, online
communication has led to the emergence of new risks. This
communication surpasses physical barriers leading to a struggle
on international legal framework since each nation is only able
to regulate communication within its jurisdiction. The legal
implications surrounding cyber-crime benefits criminals who
have actually formed networks comparable to terrorist groups.
The emergence of cyber terrorism is a clear indication of the
constant evolution of cybercrime hence need for a dynamic
international framework to tackle it effectively.
Merton, Robert King. Social Theory and Social Structure, n.d.
Numerous theories have been constructed to
explain crime among them Robert Merton’s strain theory. He
coined his theory based on the concept of the “American
Dream” which piles pressure on individuals. Deviant
subcultures emerge in the society when there is too much
emphasis on success but limited means of achieving. Some of
the highlighted flaws of the society include the inability to
access quality education, inadequate employment opportunities
among others.
This theory is relevant to this study in that, cybercrime, a
relatively new crime must have emerged as a result of social
and economic factors. Although it can be argued that technology
has led to the occurrence of cybercrime, a bad intent comes into
play in the occurrence of any crime. People react to a number of
ways when pressure is placed upon then to succeed. Conformists
will stick to the institutionalized means of success, Ritualists
lose sight of success but stick to legal means of making a
living. Furthermore, innovators accept the institutionalized goal
of success but create their own means of achieving it.
Retreatism occurs when people reject the emphasis of success
and means of achieving it. Finally, Rebellion is a mode of

adaptation whereby an individual rejects both the culturally
accepted goals as well as means of achieving it but replace them
with new means of success. Drawing reference from this theory,
a good number of individuals engage in cybercrime for profit
which can be translated as a means of achieving success.
Khaddar, Majid. War and Peace in the Law of Islam. Clark, NJ:
Lawbook Exchange, 2007.
Globalization and modern technology have made criminal
activity more common, easier to commit but hard to detect
hence more lucrative. Since perpetrators of cybercrime come
from a wide spectrum of society, profit driven crimes remain of
importance to perpetrators the same way business is to owners.
The author gives an articulate analysis of modern doctrines
regarding war and peace and its adaptation to contemporary
conditions. Crime in the 21st century has really evolved thus
understanding crime in its very nature as it is in the society.
Criminals are always on the lookout for valuable information to
steal it for a competitive edge or financial gain. Defense to
counter cybercrime is evolving just the same way cybercrime is
undergoing sophistication. Therefore, the best way to protect
oneself or business organization from falling victims is ensuring
that the latest defenses are kept in place. Four main ways of
ensuring data security are highlighted namely, raising
awareness by the public and training staff, ensuring that
software used is updated, ensuring firewalls are correctly
configured and retaining security expertise within forms to
ensure that threats are addressed as they occur.
Jaishankar, K. Cyber Criminology. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press,
2011.
Victims of crime require special care other than punishing
perpetrators or restoring justice. This is because crimes
inclusive cybercrime have detrimental effects on individuals
since it entails loss of personal identification, monetary loss,
and low productivity. Due to the anonymity assured in the
perpetration, victimization through information networks is on
the rise.

According to the literature, an individual’s lifestyle patterns
and act as a predisposing factor to victimization. Depending on
the type of attack, there exist two ways of becoming victim
namely direct or indirect attack. A direct attack happens when
an individual’s action is necessary for the course of attack such
as opening an email attachment, visiting websites infected with
malware among others. Indirect victimization occurs when an
individual’s information is obtained by cyber criminals from
cyber systems belonging to service providers such as e-shops
among others. Consequently, individuals whose lifestyle entails
a lot of activity using the internet such as communication,
business, and shopping, entertainment among others has a
higher susceptibility than less active individuals in the virtual
world.
Press, Bernan. Crime in the United States 2009. Lanham:
Rowman & Littlefield Pub. Group, 2009.
The author provides findings released by the FBI annually from
its Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCRRP). Numerous
forms of crimes are advanced in the publication and are grouped
into various categories such as race, sex, and age of victims and
offenders. The age of committing cybercrime is said to be 17
years in the United States while the victim age is open.
However, youths are among the most vulnerable groups with
distributed denial of service, cyber stalking, hacking and child
soliciting and abuse the most likely forms of attacks.
It’s important to have a clear picture of the
state of cyber criminality in the nation before embarking on
devising means of curbing it. It’s a fact that cyber systems in
the United states area under risk of cyber-attacks more than
ever since the inception of the internet in 1989. A less
generalized approach is the better option in dealing with the
menace posed by cybercrime so as to deal with each group
based on specific demographic factors to prevent offending as
well victimization.
Holt, Thomas J, and Adam M Bossler. Cybercrime In Progress.
Theory And Prevention Of Technology-Enabled Offenses, n.d.

Perpetrators of cybercrime are not necessarily knowledgeable in
the technical front. This is because they can purchase software
or malware needed in perpetration of these crime which come
along with guides and tips of use. Further there is ready
information in the internet as well people willing to help them
out. Furthermore, there exists ready-made malicious software
for download. These factors reduce the hardship in obtaining
tools of perpetration thus make cybercrime a risk worth taking.
The relevance of this literature lies within the essence of
educating the community to protect themselves. Enhancing the
capability of government agencies in the fight against crime,
cultivating an approach whose main focus is intelligence
gathering are some of the proposed methods of fighting cyber
criminality. Moreover, ensuring an effective court system and
improving international collaboration are also very vital. Given
that the US incurs loss of business as well as taxation revenues,
a good prevention investment is worth it.
Benner, Eric. "Apple Fights Order To Unlock San Bernardino
Gunman’S iPhone". Nytimes.Com. Last modified 2016.
Accessed March 3, 2016.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/technology/apple-timothy-
cook-fbi-san-bernardino.html.
More often than not, the question of civil rights
and prevention of cyber criminality raise questions. Human
rights and justice and justice should not be suspended even in
times of war as this removes their very essence. As a matter of a
great psychologist argued that justice is not a natural
phenomenon and would not exist if people coexisted
harmoniously. Therefore, its existence seeks to serve a given
purpose which should not be ignored under any circumstances.
The relevance of this literature to the research
question is enormous. Criminals will always leave a trail of
evidence on electronic gadgets when used in the perpetration of
crimes. ‘Therefore, law enforcement may want to have
unchallenged authority to access any gadget they wish even in
the course of justice. This would, however, put individual’s

right of privacy. On the contrary, this move may be seen as
protecting terrorists and cyber criminals by ensuring that the
road to detection full of hardships. This is a very critical in the
US right now and should be given undivided attention because a
solution today is an achievement today and the future in the war
against cyber-attacks and cyber terrorism.
Clough, J. Principles of cybercrime. Cambridge, UK:
Cambridge University Press, 2010.
The view that technology has exceeded our humanity is
somehow true in the contemporary world. It is actually
impossible to determine the scale of cybercrime problem.
Technology is depicted as far reaching with an estimated figure
of over 1.6 billion people accessing the internet. Furthermore,
more people access computers which are being designed to be
user-friendly and easier to use. Consequently, software is being
produced and advanced at a high rate thus the problem of bugs
which can be exploited inevitable.
Cybercrime is a problem being faced by all countries with
causal factors being more or less similar. Therefore, a multi-
dimensional move is the best approach in dealing with
cybercrime. Understanding the unique factors affecting a
particular nation cannot be overlooked either way. According to
this literature, a clear definition of cybercrime needs to be
formed as the first step towards securing a legal backing to this
problem. In a nutshell, gaps in law must be eliminated.
Goodman, M. Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected,
Everyone Is Vulnerable and What We Can Do About It. New
York [New York]: Doubleday, 2015.
The author benefits the world by going to an
extent of explaining how digital devices that are often ignored
in the explanation of cybercrime act as a soft target for
criminals. Such devices and services include 3d printers, home
automation, mobile payment, facial recognition, GPS, driverless
cars among others. He, therefore, gives the world a call that
every single gadget deserve to be handled with care in terms of
security

This literature secured lots of recommendation for people trying
to understand online security as well as resultant crime issues
due to its detailed information. If people understand the
underlying factors and issues within the topic of cybercrime,
they become empowered and better placed to collaborate with
the nation’s law enforcement agencies in the fight to secure the
nations cyber systems. The exhaustive coverage of this
literature shows that due to the fact that everything is
interconnected in the virtual world, everyone is at risk of falling
victim hence the way forward not taking anything for granted.
Kirwan, G., & Power, A. The psychology of cybercrime:
Concepts and principles. Hershey, PA: Information Science
Reference, 2012.
This literature suggests that there exists a relationship between
cybercrime and abnormal psychology. The most prominent
disorders are anti-social personality disorder, narcissism,
compulsive disorder, addictive behavior and Asperger
syndrome. The author rightly advances a new scope relevant to
this study when he states that when hackers ensure anonymity,
they avoid labeling hence cultivate a perception that their
actions are not deviant. The psychological profiling of cyber
criminals stands to benefit the academic community, legal
system, private sector and national security sector.
Fighting any form of crime requires having prior knowledge of
what crime entails regarding its nature of perpetration, target
groups, predisposing factor, demographic factors in perpetration
and offending among other factors. Therefore proving that
psychological factors indeed cause perpetration of cybercrimes
within this study shall be of great help in assisting suspects and
offenders undergo proper reformation given the high rates of
recidivism in our nation. In other words, by understanding the
motivating factors crime, better prevention, detection and
intervention of such activities can be instituted.
Kirwan, G., & Power, A. Cybercrime: The psychology of online
offenders. Cambridge University, 2013.
The author takes a very reserved point of view

in understanding the psychology of cyber criminals. This
literature shows the difficulty in relating the two aspects as it
would be to determine who would be a CEO of a multinational
company, a serial killer, an al Qaeda jihadist among others
based on psychological profile. However, in spite of the
challenges stated, employers would mainly be negligent not to
take into account factors if any showing that certain candidates
possess a high risk of being cyber criminals.
Although little hope of relating the two
phenomena is depicted, this view can be overruled using the
already existing statistics of how psychological factors cause
perpetration. Individuals who want to experience the feeling of
power and control will undoubtedly focus on cybercrime as an
alternative to traditional crimes. Whereas some will commit
computer related for fun, out of boredom, the thrill involved
and peer pressure, a right minded individual will avoid it at all
cost since they are aware that it will in one way or another lead
to pain to someone else. In fact, mental incapacity is strongly
exhibited to youths who will cause suffering to their peers-
people they know and interact with everybody.
O'Brien, M., & Yar, M. Criminology: The key concepts.
London: Routledge, (2008).
The contemporary world utilizes a multi-dimensional approach
to the concepts, institution, and approaches fundamental to the
study of crime. Issues advanced in this context include but not
limited to policing and the justice system, types of crime,
terrorism, war crimes, social issues and criminal psychology.
Although much has been done in the US in
addressing cybercrime based on the above-stated concepts, a lot
needs to be done because cybercrime is far from being
understood leave alone proper combating. The education system
needs to be fully involved in socializing the young generation
into a healthy lifestyle amidst the vigorous technological
advancements. Addressing the root cause of crime is the best
way towards achieving a crime free society hence taking a
similar approach with cybercrime will reduce it greatly if not

total elimination. Ensuring that at least a general concept of
addressing the root cause of cybercrime in all preventive
measures employed to protect US cyber systems will end any
conflicts playing a part in causation of cybercrime namely
societal, personal, political, intrastate, and interstate conflicts.
Ruan, K. Cybercrime and cloud forensics: Applications for
investigation processes. Hershey, PA: Information Science
Reference, 2013.
Our infrastructure is structured around computers. Individuals
with malicious can somehow cripple health, transport and
communication sectors effortlessly. There has been a shift from
human labor to computers in the wake of modernization and
globalization. Since most crimes leave trails behind them, it’s
important to know how to unearth these trails in the process of
investigation. Investigation here does not only involve a
perpetrators computer or digital gadget but entails relating all
factors at hand to determine any information network that could
have been used as a secondary tool.
Computer forensics have been very effective so far given the
high level of knowledge and technicality involved. A
considerable amount of data is able to be analyzed in a fast and
efficient way. Further, more valuable data can be retrieved and
be used in courts as evidence against perpetrators. Nonetheless,
computer forensic analysts have been criticized for constructing
findings in such a way that it’s admissible in court.
Your Annotated Bibliography was good. Your sampling of the
14 references you chose will provide a solid foundation for your
literature review. As I indicate in Week 6’s assignment and
announcement, your annotations on the authors or articles that
you chose will form a part of your lit review. This annotated
bibliography is NOT a Literature Review. The next part is
LINKING the themes that you identified in your annotations.
Each article will have links or common themes and as your
write, you are likely to develop new or additional ideas of

interest. Linking your reviews is accomplished by the theme of
your paper and linking similar threads. I like that each of your
annotated themes supports your topic and provides a firm
foundation that is rooted in the literature. Remember, you can
also drill down into each bibliography for further resources.
You should aim for 25 to 50 references total for your final
paper. I look forward to seeing your initial Lit Review!!
Chris
Criteria
Exemplary 16-20
Accomplished 11-15
Developing 6-10
Beginning 0-5
Total
Synthesis of Knowledge
17
Foundation of Knowledge
17
Application of Knowledge
16
Organization of Ideas/Format
15

Writing and Research Skill
15
Total
50
30
80

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