Black, white, and gray hats are terms used to describe people who engage in cybersecurity operations that range from harmful to ethical (Elazari, 2019). White hats are ethical hackers who support businesses in identifying and fixing security issues, while black hats are cybercriminals who use vulnerabilities to their advantage. Gray hats occupy a middle ground since they may take advantage of weaknesses without malevolent intent but without express permission. Although cybercrime is common, victims frequently hesitate to the authorities. This essay tries to distinguish between “black hats,” “white hats,” and “gray hats,” investigate the causes of victims’ reluctance to report cybercrime, talk about the possible influence on cybercriminals’ actions in the future, and suggest measures to improve reporting.
Black hat hackers are criminals who enter computer networks to cause harm or gain a personal advantage (Elazari, 2019). They could disseminate malware that deletes data, seizes control of systems, or steals private data like credit card numbers and passwords. White hat hackers, on the other hand, are trained hackers who acquire their talents through training and use them for legitimate endeavors. They defend software and databases from phishing, malware, and SQL injection attacks. To safeguard its websites and information, the government employs white-hat hackers. Gray hat hackers employ defensive and offensive tactics, and it is only sometimes apparent what drives them.
Despite the rise in cybercrime attacks, victims frequently hesitate to call the authorities and report the crime. The belief that law enforcement agencies will not have the resources to investigate the attack is one of the causes (Avina, 2011). Because they infrequently receive updates on the progress of their reports and lack support for dealing with the financial loss and mental health problems that result from the crime, victims might not see the benefit in reporting the crime to law enforcement. Due to possible regulatory repercussions and significant revenue losses, private-sector businesses may be reluctant to disclose cybercrime to law authorities.
The difficulty in detecting whether a cyber crime has happened and recognizing it after that is another factor in underreporting. Cases involving cybercrime sometimes rely on victim testimony, which may not be accurate. Additionally, businesses could decide not to report cybercrimes to prevent a public revelation that could harm their image and brand.
The victims’ reluctance to report cybercrime may significantly affect cybercriminals’ future actions. Suppose cybercriminals perceive a general unwillingness to disclose occurrences because they believe there is little prospect of being caught, detained, and subsequently punished. In that case, they may feel empowered to continue their unlawful activity (Das et al., 2013). In contrast to real-world crimes, where law enforcement activities are more visible, the relative absence of reporting and enforcement in the field of cybercrime generates a climate of near impunity for these perpetrators. Cybercriminals may continue their operations due to this sense of impunity, believing their acts will have no major consequences. Because of the low enforcement rate, cybercrime is increasingly ubiquitous in the digital domain. It is not unexpected that this form of crime is on the rise, as hackers are emboldened by a perception of low risk to exploit vulnerabilities, launch sophisticated attacks, and target individuals, corporations, and even governments. Failure to disclose cybercrime has far-reaching consequences that threaten the stability and security of the digital world we live in.
As the chief of a special unit for cybercrime, I would inform the public about the value of reporting cybercrime and the resources accessible to them is one tactic (Sabillon et al., 2016). The possible repercussions of failing to disclose cybercrime, such as the difficulties in apprehending cybercriminals and the absence of accurate statistics on the incidence of cybercrime, should be explained to victims.
A different tactic to emphasize is to enhance the reporting procedure itself (Sabillon et al., 2016). Clear and simple information on how to report cybercrime to law authorities should be given to victims. The report’s status should be regularly updated, and law enforcement authorities should help victims struggling with the financial and mental health effects
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