Automated crime and security

There is a new type of high tech crime that involves the computer as both a tool and subject that we must start to deal with in computer time scale measured in microseconds, not in human time measured in minutes or days. I call this crime “Automated Crime.” An automated crime is one that is executed entirely by one or more sequentially executed computer programs in a computer or networked computers. There is no human interruption or interaction from start to end and no recognition possible by humans until it is completely finished and disappears leaving no evidence. For the first time in criminal history, it is now possible to possess a crime, and to buy, sell or barter it. We will experience accounts payable and payroll frauds, e-mail and spreadsheet espionage, and database sabotage all in packaged, easy-to-use form that may even select the victims, unknown to the perpetrator. The perpetrator may not know the creator of the crime or the method used. Automated crime is going to require a new, far more sophisticated level of information security. In particular, security computer programs will have to be developed that will automatically engage in the battle of avoiding, deterring, preventing, detecting, mitigating, recovering from, and engaging in retribution against such attacks possibly without the time for human intervention