Category: Internet Crimes
A bullying game called “Letter X” has swept the country. Just about everyone has a childhood (or even adulthood) tale of being bullied. Unfortunately, bullying is something that happens in schools across the country. However, technology has made bullying even more pervasive. Rather than ending in the hallway or on the playground, bullying can now…
Various social apps are a form of communication but can they truly be used to communicate a threat? Like it or not, social media is a part of everyday life. Facebook has more than one billion active users, and Twitter counts 317 million people among its active users. Furthermore, a growing number of people use…
The rapid growth of social media and apps has to a raft of new cyberstalking laws at federal and state levels. Offensive tweets, Facebook posts, and texts have been linked to teen suicides and other consequences. However, in a recent case involving a Dallas-based reporter, a tweet is linked to direct harm. A man from…
Those who oppose the law claim it has a chilling effect on the First Amendment. It may be hard to believe, but the social networking site Facebook has only been around since 2004. Since its founding, it has accumulated 1.86 billion monthly active users. The site has become a popular way to communicate with friends,…
In Congress, a member of the House has introduced a bill to make swatting a federal offense. In an era dominated by social media, it takes a lot to stand out in crowded feed of viral videos and the latest cute cat photos. Unfortunately, some social media users have tried to gain notoriety by carrying…
Cyber security experts say everyone should be cautious about providing information to online sites. As the 2016 holiday shopping season gets underway, cybersecurity firms warn that hackers could cost retailers big and small millions of dollars. According to a Fortune report, hackers have the power to not only steal consumer data, but to take down…
The FCC’s decision is a potential blow to broadband companies. Few people can get through the day without using the internet. Whether you’re checking your email or sending documents to a work colleague, you probably need the web to get things done. In fact, a staggering 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created online every…
According to a Wall Street Journal report, cyber-criminals have begun targeting dating websites in the latest round of internet scams. Compared to traditional criminals, cyber-criminals are typically much more difficult to catch. From hacking to sexual exploitation, cyber-criminals commit their crimes behind the anonymity and relative safety of a computer screen. However, law enforcement is catching…
A decade ago social media was seldom a factor in criminal investigations. Today, cyber bullying and other forms of online intimidation form a key part of many cases, meaning both prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys need to keep up to date with the world of social media. In a recent article The Dallas Morning News…
An activist-journalist from Dallas has been facing more than 100 years in prison over allegations he posted a hyperlink to hacked material. However, the U.S. attorney’s office has now filed a motion to dismiss the bulk of its criminal case against Barrett Brown who has claimed to be the spokesman for the hacking group Anonymous….