The Changing Face of Cybercrime as a Service: An Australian Perspective

Abstract:

Claims of unchecked sophisticated cyberattacks have raised important questions about the types of adversaries, the targets (victims), the changing nature of cybercrime, and the legal ramifications that lead to successful prosecutions. The ease of access to services, such as botnets that can be deployed on behalf of customers by third-party providers, has no doubt encouraged non-technical customers to engage in cyber warfare. As such, they could be legitimately prosecuted; such prosecutions are, however, rare, due to a range of limitations. This article examines the legal and practical issues arising from the evolution of Cybercrime as a Service from a technical to a business-driven model.


AUTHORS

Photo of Mike Johnstone

School of Science,
Edith Cowan University,
Western Australia

Mike Johnstone is an Associate Professor at the School of Science at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia where he teaches network security and mobile app development. As a member of the Security Research Institute at ECU, his work on resilient systems covers secure development methodologies, wireless sensor networks, and the security of IoT devices with a focus on critical infrastructure. With over 30 years of experience in ICT, he provides consultancy services in cyber security for private industry, government, and research organisations and has held various IT roles including programmer, systems analyst, project manager, and network manager before moving to academia.

Photo of Dr. Michael Crowley

School of Science,
Edith Cowan University,
Western Australia

Dr. Michael Crowley is a barrister, retired law academic, and honorary senior lecturer in the School of Science at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia. Crowley has extensive trial experience, has taught criminal law and procedure for the Law Extension Committee within the University of Sydney, was a revising examiner for the Legal Practice Board of NSW, taught international law and advocacy at Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China, and, amongst other units, taught security law, international law, and the law of evidence at ECU. At ECU he was at various times competitions coordinator, course coordinator for law and for forensic investigations. His research interests include terrorism, security law, and international humanitarian law. Crowley has written international humanitarian law mooting problems and continues to sit as a moot judge in international humanitarian law, international commercial arbitration, and negotiation competitions. He is a member of the Board of Management, Health Consumers Council of Western Australia.

Photo of Glenn Murray

School of Science,
Edith Cowan University,
Western Australia

Glenn Murray is a former Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director with 20+ years of professional experience, gained in multiple industries. Murray has significant experience as a director focusing on technology-driven innovation projects. This involved building multi-discipline project teams, understanding strategies, embracing innovation, and building technology road maps. Murray has extensive experience in leading multi-million-dollar projects in ASX-listed companies across multiple departments, including innovation projects across the oil and gas industries, mining, heavy vehicle manufacturing, defence (electronic warfare), and telecommunication industries. Murray has built an extensive global network of intelligence, innovation, and technology, and cybersecurity professionals including c-suite level. This, combined with a passion for technology and innovative solutions, allows him to be up to date with the latest technology, as well as with the competitive landscape within the industry. He has a proven history of thought leadership in innovation through presenting at industry events, TEDx, magazine publications, academic publications, news articles, and media interviews. He is in his final stages of completing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in cybersecurity, when combined with a focus on strategic design, digital transformation, innovation, and organisational effectiveness, allows for technology and digitally enabled outcomes. Murray also holds a master’s in systems engineering and a bachelor’s in electrical engineering with 1st class Honors from the University of New South Wales.

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Keywords

A

AI
APT

C

C2
C2S
CDX
CIA
CIP
CPS

D

DNS
DoD
DoS

I

IA
ICS

M

S

SOA

X

XRY

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The definitive publication for the best and latest research and analysis on information warfare, information operations, and cyber crime. Available in traditional hard copy or online.

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