1.1 Introduction
Cybercrime is a crime which involves the use of digital technologies in commission of offence, directed to computing and communication technologies. The modern techniques that are proliferating towards the use of internet activity results in creating exploitation, vulnerability making a suitable way for transferring confidential data to commit an offence through illegal activity. The activity involves like attacking on Information center Data System, theft, child pornography built images, online transaction fraud, internet sale fraud and also deployment in internet malicious activities such as virus, worm and third party abuse like phishing, email scams etc. The universal approach of network like internet at all levels of network needs to recover from committing illegal activity in all over the world and to stop the criminal nature by protecting unlawful activity by enforcing different level of firewall setting within its offline control for every nation in order to monitor and prevent crimes carried out in cyberspace.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Cyber crime all originated with bitter employees causing physical damage to the computers they worked with, with the objective to get back at their superiors. As the ability to have personal computers at home became more accessible and popular, cyber criminals began to focus their efforts on home users. Further research on this subject matter reveals that history of cybercrime was further established that the first published report of cybercrime in Nigeria occurred in the 1960s, when computers were large mainframe systems. Since mainframes were not connected with other ones and only the wealthy and influential people can have access to them, the cybercrimes were always "insider" cybercrimes, which means employment, allowed them to access into mainframe computers, and then refers to as computer crime rather than cybercrime.
Actually, in the 1960s and 1970s, the cybercrime, which was "computer crime" in fact, was different from the cybercrime we faced with today, because availability of Internet was restricted within some sectors like the military in that dispensation. In the following decades, the increasing of computer network and personal computers metamorphosed "computer crime" into real cybercrime. In fact, the former descriptions were "computer crime", "computer-related crime" or "crime by computer". With the pervasion of digital technology, some new terms like "high-technology" or "information age" crime were added to the definition.
Since the invention of the internet, other new terms, like "cybercrime" and "net" crime became a household name as people began to exchange information based on networks of computers, also keep data in computer rather than paper. At the same time, the cybercrime was not only restricted in target cybercrime, but expanded into tool cybercrime and computer incidental. We therefore come to terms with a conclusion on the meaning that cybercrime is an evil having its origin in the growing dependence on computers and related devices in modern life. A simple yet sturdy definition of cybercrime would be unlawful acts wherein the computer is either a tool or a target or both”. Defining cybercrimes as illegal behaviour directed by means of electronic operations that targets the security of computer systems and the data processed by them.
Cybercrime in a broader sense computer-related crime: any illegal behaviour committed by means of, or in relation to, a computer system or network, including such crimes as illegal possession and offering or distributing information by means of a computer system or network. Meanwhile, in an attempt to uncover these crimes billions of Naira is lost through these crimes annually with little or no hope of curbing it due to its complex nature. Most perpetrators of this crime are never caught and if at all caught, are never prosecuted because of lack of concrete evidence, organizational and societal awareness. As a result the extent and impact of Cybercrime is uncertain because lack of reporting leads to uncertainty with regard to the extent and impact of the crime. This is especially relevant with regard to the involvement of these crimes as compared to other organized crimes. Available information from the crime statistics in Nigeria is lacking and if any, do not reflect the real extent or impact of this crime in our every-day living.
Therefore, in Lagos State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the impact of ICT on cyber crime and armed robbery in Nigeria.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the current menace of cyber crime in Nigeria has witnessed an unprecendented rise among the youths this has regrettably been caused by a host of factors most notable unemployment. Cyber crime has cost Nigeria more in terms of economy as it has greeted a bad image for Nigeria in the disapora which to some extent has hindered prospective investors and thus slowing down economic development and advancement. The issue of cyber threat is one that has been discussed by many people with various perspectives on the issue, most coming at it from different sides than the others.
Cyber-crimes have gone beyond conventional crimes and now have threatening ramifications to the national security of all countries, even to technologically developed countries as the United States. The illegal act may be targeted at a computer network or devices e.g., computer virus, denial of service attacks (DOS), malware (malicious code). The illegal act may be facilitated by computer network or devices with target independent of the computer network or device”. However, ethical hacking has been used by various telecommunication companies to cover the loophole and this study is providing an overview on the issues and the solutions.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the impact of ICT on cyber crime and armed robbery in Nigeria using EFCC in Lagos State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To assess the usefulness of ICT in combating cyber crime and armed robbery activities in Nigeria.
- To determine the relationship between cyber crime and armed robbery activities in Nigeria.
- To examine the role of the government in the fight against cyber crime and armed robbery in Nigeria.
- To determine the major factors responsible for increase of cyber crime and armed robbery in Nigeria.
- To recommend ways of improving the fight against cyber crime and armed robbery in Nigeria.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are there factors responsible for increase of cyber crime and armed robbery in Nigeria?
- Is ICT useful in combating cyber crime and armed robbery activities in Nigeria?
- What is the relationship between cyber crime and armed robbery activities in Nigeria?
- What are the ways of improving the fight against cyber crime and armed robbery in Nigeria?
- What is the role of the government in the fight against cyber crime and armed robbery in Nigeria?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between cyber crime and armed robbery in terms of ICT usage in Nigeria
- H1: There is a significant relationship between cyber crime and armed robbery in terms of ICT usage in Nigeria
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There are no significant factors responsible for increase of cyber crime and armed robbery in Nigeria
- H1: There are significant factors responsible for increase of cyber crime and armed robbery in Nigeria
1.7 Significance of Study
The study would be of immense importance to government at all levels as it seeks to reveal the effect of cyber crime activities on the socio economic development of Nigeria. The study would also benefit students, researchers and scholars who are interested in a further study on the subject matter.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the impact of ICT on cyber crime and armed robbery in Nigeria using EFCC in Lagos State as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Cybercrime: Cybercrime is a crime which involves the use of digital technologies in commission of offence, directed to computing and communication technologies.
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