Cybercrime in the Digital Age

Thesis

Cybercrime is a global problem impacting the lives of millions every year. Individuals, private companies, government agencies, and nations face the threat of crime perpetrated using computers and/or the internet. The digitization of society and the economy transforms the landscape of our lives. As technology becomes increasingly ubiquitous around the world and increasingly pervasive in people’s lives, so too does cybercrime, the impacts of this crime, and the need for cyber security. The analysis looks at how technologies of the digital age affect cybercrime offending, cyber security, and law enforcement. The focus of this work is on the categories of technology that illustrate how technology simultaneously enables cyber offending and cyber policing: big data, cryptocurrency, and communication networks. The study relies on theoretical frameworks from sociology, criminology, and technology, such as Marxist theories of capital production, Routine Activity Theory, and Actor-Network Theory. The investigation is grounded in an examination of key cases including the British Library hack, the Lazarus heist, the TalkTalk hack, the Petya attacks, and the coordinated takedown of AlphaBay and Hansa Market with law enforcement efforts referred to as Operation Bayonet and Operation GraveSac. The analysis contributes to the body of criminological literature with a unique analysis of the role technology plays in cybercrime by combining existing research, a cross-disciplinary theoretical approach, and an in-depth view of criminal and law enforcement cases. It further adds to academic, practical, and policy-oriented approach discussions of the growing field of cybercrime with a critical analysis of offending, policing, and security methods and approaches. However, further research is needed to better understand the continuously evolving environment of cybercrime as well as the cyber police and security efforts mandated by prevalent cybercriminal activity.

Authors: Biedron, SR

• Alternative title: How big data, cryptocurrency, and communication networks shape cyber offending, cyber security, and law enforcement
• DOI: 10.5287/ora-r8oxybrng
• Type of award: MSc taught course
• Level of award: Masters
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: computer crime; blockchain; actor-network theory; cyber policing; cryptocurrency; cyber security; technology; cybercrime; criminology; darknet
• Subjects: Actor-network theory; Crime; Computer crimes; Law enforcement; Computer security; Criminology; Dark Web