Tasks with Directions

Chapter 5 contains an overview of cybercrime laws.  Read the chapter carefully to gain a better understanding of the many cybercrimes that are investigated and prosecuted.

Exercise:

  1. Review credible online and print news sources.  Search for a news story about a particular cybercrime that occurred in the United States: cite your source; describe what happened; and identify what U.S. law(s) you believe were or are being violated.

The group DarkSide launched a ransomware attack against the Colonial Pipeline, a major fuel supply network in the United States, on May 7, 2021. Due to the attack, the pipeline was completely shut down, which resulted in significant fuel shortages and disruptions throughout the East Coast. Colonial Pipeline paid a ransom to resume operations, which revealed major vulnerabilities in the nation’s infrastructure and private sector cybersecurity. This particular incident brought to light underlying issues in the governance of cybersecurity, including the separations that exist across government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense.

Cybercrime’s legal ramifications were brought up by the attack. Given that it involved unauthorized access to computer systems and the possibility of electronic ransom payments, it most likely broke multiple US statutes, including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and the Wire Fraud Statute. The involvement of cryptocurrency in the ransom transaction could potentially give cause for concern regarding money laundering. Fears about the security of personal data and increased fuel costs were two immediate effects of the hack on consumers. Since consumers can frequently be exposed to data breaches, Dolliver points out that greater regulations are needed to protect the public as well as the infrastructure against ongoing cyber threats.

Resources:

Dolliver, D. S. (n.d.). After a data breach, it’s consumers left holding the bag. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/after-a-data-breach-its-consumers-left-holding-the-bag-33067

Thompson, T. (n.d.). The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack and the SolarWinds hack were all but inevitable – why national cyber defense is a ‘wicked’ problem. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-and-the-solarwinds-hack-were-all-but-inevitable-why-national-cyber-defense-is-a-wicked-problem-160661