John Helfers

Technology can be a wonderful thing; you have a world at your fingertips with powerful search engines, the combined knowledge of humanity with Wikipedia and social networks keeping you in touch with friends and family all over the globe. However, there is a dark underside to all these positives. In the rush to market with web and internet based services there are often many compromises with security, and it is through these loopholes that Crime Inc., as Goodman describes them, take the opportunity to slip in.

Scouring his vast database of crime cases he brings us tales of identity theft, financial theft and how criminals are now using modern technology to extend their reach. There are stories of gangs printing guns from the latest 3D printer technology, how servers are brought down by DoS attacks, how they can active webcams and baby monitors remotely to spy of people and capture images for blackmail. They have found ways to hack pacemakers too, bringing the terrifying reality of lethal voltages being sent to your own medical equipment. Even drones are starting to be extensively used by crooks, not only for surveillance, but fitting them with weapons brings a whole new deadly terror; Skynet is nearly here.

Even who you would think are the good guys, are not entirely innocent. The main reason that services provided by Google and Facebook are free is that you are the product. They mine your likes and searches, the results of which are sold on to data analysis companies who are looking for trends and targeted advertising to offer to companies. This starts the very moment you sign up, as the lengthy terms and conditions that no one ever reads not only claim all your data as theirs, but also seek to eliminate all responsibility and comeback against theft of your data.

So far, so bad.

The future really does not look too rosy. Coming soon is the internet of things, where almost all devices in your home from lightbulbs to fridges will have some sort of access to the internet. This means the advent of the smart home is finally upon us, and that you will be able to control various things from your smartphone, even when not there. Great, or so you’d think; control over your home with a simple touch. But fairly often these devices have precious little security and offer the easiest route into your home network by an experienced hacker.

All of this is frankly terrifying. Our society is now totally dependent on these web based technologies and systems for essential infrastructure elements like power, water and security. These systems are all very well and offer the companies that use them financial advantages, but the big problem with all of this that there is precious little security and no resilience to cyber-attacks. These historically have come from hackers, but now others are getting in on the act with the first known attacks originating from states. Goodman offers us a bleak future, but he does have some suggestions on how we as individuals can improve our security even something as simple as covering the camera on your laptop when you are not using it, to using twin security login methods. He does point a finger at the software industry though, not only do they need to raise their game and produce software that is less sieve, but they also need to start accepting responsibility when there are breaches and not washing their hands of it. If you are brave enough, it is worth reading for anyone who is interested in technology; 3.5 stars overall.… (more)