Question

More and more, the operations of our businesses, governments, and financial institutions are controlled by information that exists only inside computer memories. Anyone clever enough to modify this information for his own purposes can reap substantial re wards. Even worse, a number of people who have done this and been caught at it have managed to get away without punishment. These facts have not been lost on criminals or would-be criminals. A recent Stanford Research Institute study of computer abuse was based on 160 case histories, which probably are just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. After all, we only know about the unsuccessful crimes. How many successful ones have gone undetected is anybody's guess. Here are a few areas in which computer criminals have found the pickings all too easy.

Banking. All but the smallest banks now keep their accounts on computer files. Someone who knows how to change the numbers in the files can transfer funds at will. For instance, one programmer was caught having the computer transfer funds from other people's accounts to his wife's checking account.

Write down True, False or Doesn’t say.

1. Anyone can become a victim of computer criminals at any time.

2. Computer criminals hack into other people's accounts and transfer money wherever they want.

3. After all, we only know about the unsuccessful crimes.

4. Here are a few areas in which computer criminals have found the pickings all too easy.

5. This fact was overlooked by criminals or potential criminals.

6. How many unsuccessful ones have gone undetected is anybody's guess.

7. According to the South African Police Service, cybercrime is a fast-growing area of crime.