Computer criminals are mean and sinister types. But many more wear business suits have university degrees, and appear to be pillars of their communities. Some are high schools or university students. Others are middle aged business executives. Some are mentally deranged, overtly hostile or extremely committed to a cause and they attack computers as a symbol.

Whatever their characteristics and motivations computer criminals have access to enormous amounts of hardware, software and data; they have the potential to cripple much of effective business and government throughout the world. In a sense then the purpose of computer security is to prevent these criminals from doing damage. Read More