Online? Beware, you are under watch
October 24, 2007, Indiatimes Infotech
Online crime is on the rise, not only affecting developed nations but also increasingly becoming a problem in developing countries. Many Indian netizens, especially those in the young population, are unaware of the risks of being online, even though more users are becoming targets without knowing it. The article warns of the dangers of online crime, which affects everyone from teens on social networking sites to consumers and businesses carrying out e-commerce transactions. Providing personal information online can lead to serious consequences such as identity theft and emotional abuses. In addition to the personal costs of online crime, there are the social costs to companies who must compensate victims of identity theft or deal with unauthorised charges or damaged websites caused by hackers. The article advocates that the best strategy against these crimes is to promote awareness to users rather than just issuing perpetrators more severe punishments.