Will Cybercriminals Run The World?

[William Knowles <wk () C4I ORG>]

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/articles/0,3266,47159,00.html

VISIONS 21/OUR TECHNOLOGY
JUNE 19, 2000 VOL. 155 NO. 25 VISIONS 21

BY BRUCE STERLING

Picture this scene from the near future: organized crime gets hold of
encryption technology so powerful even IRS supercomputers can't crack
it. An underground electronic economy emerges, invisible to U.S. tax
code. The Federal Government, unable to replenish its coffers, let
alone fund a standing army, shrinks until it wields about as much
power as a local zoning board. Militias and gangs take over, setting
up checkpoints at state borders and demanding tribute of all who pass.

This scenario, in which crypto-wielding cybercriminals take over the
world, has become a standard plot device in turn-of-the-century
science fiction. I've even used it once or twice. But there is good
news on this front. Running the world turns out to be surprisingly
challenging. It isn't something an evil mastermind can do just by
hitting return on his keyboard.

[...]


*-------------------------------------------------*
"Communications without intelligence is noise;
Intelligence without communications is irrelevant."
Gen. Alfred. M. Gray, USMC
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C4I Secure Solutions             http://www.c4i.org
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