In today's world, not a day goes by without someone being affected by cybercrime or cyberterrorism, which go hand in hand. It is important for government and businesses to constantly stay up to date with the latest technologies to help prevent a cyberattack. It is also important that law enforcement is also up to date with the latest technology, not only to prevent a cyberattack, but also to quickly prosecute those responsible for such an attack. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'?Get the original essayIntroductionThe computer we all know and use today probably began with the invention of the 'Manchester Baby' in 1948. The Manchester Baby was the first computer to use stored programs. The idea of ​​the computer we know today came long before Manchester Baby and some would even say it started with the abacus. The idea behind computers was to be able to automate functions requiring numbers, much like a calculator. In 1948, no one would have imagined that computers in 2019 would be small enough to fit in someone's pocket, but smart and powerful enough to book a flight, give directions, handle banking, and be used as a telephone. Those who imagined computers could do all this, and those who made them do it, most likely imagined that criminals would exploit them for criminal enterprises. This is unfortunately where we are today. Arguably, computers run the world and our daily lives. We can't live without them and we hate when they fail or are used for criminal purposes. Cyberterrorism has now become a common term because of computers. As defined by Dictionary.com (2019), cyberterrorism is a computer attack aimed at disabling vital computer systems in order to intimidate, coerce, or harm a government or part of the population. Individuals who commit acts of cyberterrorism are called cyberterrorists or hackers. Identity theft is one of the most serious crimes committed by cyberterrorists. In 1940, no one would ever think that a criminal would end up stealing their identity. Today, 73 years later, identity theft is commonplace across the country. As defined by Dictonary.Com (2013), identity theft is the fraudulent appropriation and use of a person's identifying or personal data or documents, such as a credit card. In 2012, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) intercepted fraudulent tax refunds totaling $20 billion. In contrast, in 2011 the total was $14 billion. In today's society, almost everyone is aware of identity theft, and yet they still walk around unprotected. Individuals, as well as society, have a responsibility to avoid ignoring identity theft and how it works. Excuses such as not caring, not being able to afford protection, or a lack of understanding of the technology involved are not excusable when the information is readily available. Of course, the lack of protection against identity theft varies from person to person. If a person has very bad credit, they might believe they are safe from identity theft. Granted identity theft is not credit based, identity theft begins with the discovery stage. According to Albrecht, C., Albrecht, C. and Tzafrir, S.(2011), “discovery is the first step in the identity theft cycle because all other actions taken by the perpetrator depend on the accuracy and effectiveness of the discovery step”. So the truth is, identity thieves start with people who don't know they're vulnerable and regardless of their credit. Attackers will go so far as to go through trash cans, tamper with an ATM, and write down your credit card number to steal your identity and your hard-earned money. Having a bad attitude will give the individual a false sense of security, and with this type of attitude, it will make them an easier target for identity theft. Over the past 73 years, there has been a substantial increase in the cost of living. In 1940 the cost of a new home was 3,920.00 and the average American wage was only 1,725.00 per year. The average annual salary of Americans has increased, but not at a fast enough rate to keep up with the ever-changing cost of living. One study found that the average American is only willing to pay an $87.00 tax for identity protection if there is a 75% reduction in identity theft cases. While budgeting to the penny is people's priority, there isn't much, if any, room for frivolous spending, especially when living on a fixed income. Living on a fixed income usually means budgeting down to the penny, with no room for error. Living on a fixed income seems like something reserved only for seniors, people living on federal or state assistance also fall under this title. How can people afford to pay for identity protection when they struggle to meet basic expenses as well as budget? Since identity theft is out of control, it should be a free service for everyone. For the most part, people have a legitimate reason for not paying for identity protection. With the national debt growing every day, the cost of identity protection can be costly. In the United States alone, 46.2 million people live in poverty, with a poverty rate of 15%. Therefore, if identity theft protection costs too much, many people cannot afford it. An illustration of this concept is much like insuring a vehicle where the price of insurance is often higher depending on the age of the driver, and with the cost of living ever increasing, it is all the more difficult to bear the cost. protection against identity theft when people struggle to meet their basic living needs. On the other hand, you can always try to protect yourself instead of paying a company to protect your identity. You could always be more careful about what you do with your personal, financial and other assets. There are a variety of different strategies people can use, whether or not they have a fixed income, that will make them less vulnerable to identity theft. For example, destroying important identity documents can reduce your risk. If there are important digital legal documents, store them on a laptop disk, because in the event of a hack, thieves will steal this information directly from the computer. Perhaps the most common form of identity theft is theft via credit cards and other prepaid methods. Identity thieves can activate prepaid credit cards and other forms of credit such as catalogs where you can order household items and pay later. By using the prepayment technique, it is very difficult to prove that it was not you who ordered the items or made.