Cyberspace: A Danger to Society

Cyberspace: A Danger To Society

Technology has drastically changed between the 19th and the 20th century, from telephones to radios to televisions and finally, the internet. The internet was first developed in the 1960s to share defensive research between the Department of Defense and other involved facilities. Had it not been for the popularity of personal computers in the1980s did the internet become widely utilized by the general public. By the 21st century, the internet has become an integral part of many people’s lives, leading to the increased amount of time spent and dependence on the computer network. The constant changing and rapid evolving cyber environment is unsafe for our community, for it creates a medium for the transmission of negative ideas and activities, exposing the economy to the dangers of insecure networks, and affecting individuals socially. Thus, jeopardizing our society as a whole.

The unrestrained and under-regulated cyberspace is used as a powerful intermediary to spread negative ideas and is also served as a perfect breeding ground for cyber crimes. Most people in our society understand that “the free speech principle forbids the government from “censoring” speech of which it disapproves” (Sunstein 636). This allows people to post whatever they like online. Many see this as an advantage in creating hate groups, even ones that threaten and are against our own country. For example, in Cass Sunstein’s article, “The Daily We: Is The Internet Really A Blessing For Democracy?” he states that “the Unorganized Militia discuss and trade current conspiracy theories and organize events through the use of computer networks.” The lack of internet censorship in America encourages illegal activities and gives individuals and cyber criminals the opportunity to “strengthen existing convictions” (Sunstein 640) . According to Danny O’Brien, people were threatened to get their servers knocked off by criminal gangs who held gambling websites to ransom. With no definite authority to regulate over the internet, exposure of damaging cyber content from hate crimes to online gangs has increased, endangering the safety of internet users and our nation.

Due to the advancing and rapid growth of technology of the cyber environment, the security of our internet has tremendously decreased, leaving many networks vulnerable to hackers and viruses, and as a result: the potential for economic failure. As Danny O‘Brien contends in his article, “How to Mend a Broken Internet,” “the internet is dangerously insecure” (646). Because technical science of the net is way ahead of the average persons’ computer, many are not fully protected from hackers and malicious attacks. In addition to internet users, many businesses and major companies are also greatly affected by the poor security of the net. When the Sasser worm was released in 2004 by Sven Jaschan,