1. What is the responsibility of computer owners to keep their systems secure from the attack of bot herders?
A computer owner’s responsibility to secure their system from the attack of bot herders is to always keep the operating system and applications current to the most recent release. This is because; all software is subject to a constant revision process as new security vulnerabilities are found and patches to correct any problems. Keeping antivirus up to date is also important.

2. Is a computer owner who refuses to purchase or use software and hardware to block attackers complicit when a bot herders attack, captures and then uses an unprotected computer to commit a crime?
I think the computer owners should also be held responsible if any bot herder use the owner’s computer for criminal purposes. The owner should provide effective firewalls and other safeguards to their computer.

3. Do software developers shoulder some of the blame when they distribute operating systems and applications that include security flaws that make computers vulnerable?
I don’t think so. Becacuse for me, nobody is perfect. Anyone is entitled for any lapses he or she may execute but that does not mean there will be no room for correction. If further development is needed, then it should be done in order to eliminate these bot herders who kept on seeking cybercrimes.

5.16
What are two tactics criminals use to commit credit fraud? What are two countermeasures financial institutions and retailers use to prevent credit fraud?

5.19
The meaning of the term hacker has changed overtime. Describe three phases it has gone through and what it meant it each phase. Explain the terms white-hat-hackers, black-hat-hacker and cracker.

5.21
Describe the purpose of Cybercrime Treaty (5.5.3). What is the dual criminality provision? Do you consider this provision to be important? Why or why not?

5.37
Many viruses and denial of service attacks are perpetrated by minors. Some people argue for tougher penalties, claiming that light penalties ( fines, com, service and probation) encourage such behavior. Some argue that young hackers have the potential to mature into responsible adults, and that incarcerating them will just turn them into criminals when they are adults. Discuss the merits of these arguments. Which side do you agree with? Why?

Why is business fraud growing? Many businesses lack the processes and capabilities to detect these increasingly sophisticated frauds. The Internet has made it easier for fraudsters to steal identities, fake traditional ―proofs of right‖ demonstrating legitimacy, attack multiple industries, collaborate and share information with other criminals, and operate anywhere in the world. Moreover, as law enforcement, banks, and businesses crack down on individual identity fraud, many criminals are shifting to business identity theft, where the safeguards are not yet as strong and the payoff is much more lucrative.
Because the many types of business fraud are difficult to detect, they often go unreported as fraud and are simply counted by companies in the broader category of bad debt. In fact, many companies do not track fraud carefully, and so may not always know when they have been victims of fraud; and neither do they share information extensively with law enforcement or industry peers. The lack of rigorous tracking and coordination among industry and law enforcement organizations emboldens criminals and makes it easier for them to continue perpetrating scams.

The first step to minimse the amount of spyware on your computer is to always keep the operating system and applications current to the most recent release. All software is subject to a constant revision process as new security vulnerabilities are found and patches to correct the problem are issued.

Close on the heels of keeping your operating system up to date is to keep your antivirus program datafiles current. For most this means an annual renewal fee. The importance of keeping your antivirus search files up to date can not be emphasised enough daily, weekly and even hourly new viruses and spyware are being found. Fortunately most antivirus programs have an automatic feature to regularly check to see is you virus data file is current. Always activate this update feature if available

The next step is in the area of be an educated user. Do not follow pop ups that mysteriously appear in your browser. It is recommended to avoid sites that are known to often have malware on them, many of these sites are known as drive by sites. Even the simple act of casually visiting them could infect you with malware. Two common types of sites that are known to infect a drive by user are on line gambling and many porn sites.

In addition to scanning your computer regularly for viruses scan it for spyware as well, This is not always as easy as it sounds it should be. There are many free system scanners, unfortunately some are also secret malware installers as well.

To the best of my knowledge the following are all free (many also have a commercial version as well) and they are not generally considered to install their own brand of malware. http://www.dnb.com/asset/document/dnb_pdfs/16799526.pdf http://www.steptoe.com/assets/attachments/3785.pdf