Cyber Crime Lawyer Blog

I am proud to announce that my firm, Balliro Seltzer LLC, is sponsoring radio station 93 Rock's Best Damn Brew Review event -- happening this Friday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. This is the station's outdoor beer garden and concert, featuring 200 beers and a concert stage with local South Florida bands Ghost of Gloria, Venejer and Streetkind. Along with First Class Transportation, we are sponsoring the Safe Ride Home program, which offers rides home to participants who don't feel safe to drive. Our Miami DUI defense attorneys know firsthand how costly a drunk driving charge can be, in lives and money, and we want everyone to have fun and arrive home safely.

Here's the radio promo for the event, which mentions us as a sponsor. For more information, you can check out the BDBR page at 93rock.com.

If you thought the government wasn't taking tax evasion matters seriously before, think again. Former UBS banker who COOPERATED with the US government and the IRS got sentenced today to40 months in prison . The IRS is not taking these matters lying down and are searching for anyone involved in hiding money from Uncle Sam. As Miami Criminal Defense Tax Evasion Lawyers, we are experienced in international banking matters.

Not much need be said as this UBS saga continues to play out. The only thing people need to know is that if you qualify as an individual who may be the target of an IRS tax evasion investigation, there is no time to delay. Call today for your FREE consultation. The number is easy 1-866 ARRESTED (within Florida), or 866-685-3421 (nationwide).

UBS Criminal Defense Attorney's represent individuals being investigated and/or charged with tax evasion. In light of the pending settlement between the United States government and the UBS Swiss Bank, the IRS is receiving 4,450 accounts, which at one time held approximately $18 billion in assets. As a Miami Tax Evasion UBS Criminal Defense Lawyer, this is not the end to this saga. Aside from UBS, the US government is seeking any individuals who may have or currently are hiding assets offshore.

The US government's so-called new voluntary disclosure program is not as new as most believe. For a long time the IRS allowed and continues to allow individuals to resolve tax issues anonymously. If you or anyone you know currently has IRS and/or tax evasion issues and would like a FREE consultation from experienced tax evasion criminal defense attorneys, don't delay call today 24/7 1-866-ARRESTED.

Think before your text, that is the message we need to be sending our kids. The Sexting Revolution continues to haunt our kids and there is no end in sight. I guess this what we get for giving our kids camera phones. Ultimately who is to blame? Are the courts the best way to deal with this problem? There is an ongoing list of questions that can be posed when it comes to this topic, but the end results is usually the same: kidson criminal probation for being kids; which in turn can lead to a criminal record and problems in the future.

As a Fort Lauderdale Cyber Crime and Criminal Defense Lawyer, I see this problem everyday. Cyber crime both those with sexual content and non-sexual content are plaguing society. Cyber stalking is on the rise, and sexting is here to stay. The final question at the end of all this is, will the State (prosecutor) do the right thing or use the minor as a stepping stone?

Recently a teen in Melbourne, Florida received probation for forwarding sexually explicit photos. This was charged as some serious felonies, but plead down for resolution purposes. But again, I have to ask the question, where's the crime, and what does this resolution serve? Minors sending pictures of minors, and then being charged criminally. This is NOT what the legislature had in mind when they drafted this legislation. Until the legislature amends the laws, this will be debated.

If you or anyone you know needs the assistance of a former cyber crime prosecutor turned criminal defense lawyer in Florida, call 24/7 for a free consultation.

Patience pays off...sometimes, but with police agencies actively seeking out those soliciting minors, the agents investigating have all the time in the world. Police around the State and country are growing more patient in developing their suspects. No longer do law enforcement agencies look to net the "quick fix big fish," rather they have started "stalking" their subjects. What that means is they are digging into the backgrounds of their targets and learning everything they can before they make their arrest. They will have several chats, sometimes over a period of months until they finally make an arrest.

Recently in Miami Dade County a life guard was arrested and charged with solicitation of a minor online by the Broward Sheriff's office. BSO had been tracking and following him for months as they built their case. This was a combined effort with international ties, which ultimately led to his arrest. That is what makes this case a little more interesting than most. There are several issues that can arise when dealing with international cases, the evidence they bring and methods that may or may not lead to its introduction in a United States Court of law.

Allegations are all that has been made at this time, and everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. As a cyber crime defense attorney, there are many avenues that can be taken in order to successfully win and defend against the crime of online solicitation. If you or a loved one are facing charges, cyber crime or otherwise, don't delay call David Seltzer, Miami Dade Cyber Crime Criminal Defense Attorney for a free consultation 24/7. Your freedom and restoration of civil rights is our number one goal!

Due to the increasing cyber crime issues arising around the world, I have decided to start informing my readers of the various cyber conferences that will be taking place around the globe. Please check out the ICCyber.org conference in Brazil.

For travel information please visit:

David Seltzer is a Miami based criminal cyber crime defense attorney. For a free consultation 24/7, please contact him today.

As a Duval County Child Pornography Attorney, I found this interesting, law enforcement arrested seventy-seven (77) people on charges of child pornography this week in Tallahassee, Florida. The arrests were part of an ongoing operation dubbed "Operation Orange Tree." The individuals arrested were from all over the place including two (2) men from Lee County, Florida now faced with child pornography charges and a lifetime of penalties and problems. Other counties where individuals were arrested are Polk County, Florida, and Duval County, Florida, all relating to child pornography and children.

As a Lee County Child Pornography Attorney, what does all this mean for the 77 individuals charged? What it does not mean, and what they should not do is perceive their lives to be ruined. At this point, the state/federal authorities have made allegations of charges. No one has been convicted of anything. When dealing with cyber crime cases, it is all about the forensics and the investigation. The method's and manner in which the agencies conduct themselves is of the utmost importance. T's have to be crossed and I's dotted. Police have to be held accountable for their collection of evidence, and the following of protocols, etc.

As a former Miami-Dade Cyber Crime Prosecutor, I am familiar with all the protocols and procedures that are necessary in a proper arrest and forensic review. I have years of experience in Cyber Crime and child pornography cases both as a prosecutor and a defense attorney. As a Polk County Child Pornography Lawyer, make sure that if you are facing serious child pornography or solicitation charges, your attorney has the necessary experience and can understand and interpret the evidence. Call today for a FREE consultation 24/7 365 contact us 866-685-3421.

What do you do when you are not satisfied with your pizza? Whatever it is, it doesn't usually lead to getting arrested and charged with a criminal act. That is what happened to current prosecutor David Ranck. Mr. Ranck got into an altercation after his pizza was not delivered and he struck the pizza delivery lady. Mr. Ranck is now charge with battery and is facing criminal charges in Miami. (Miami-Dade prosecutor charged with punching pizza delivery woman). The punishment for battery, if convicted is up to 1 year in the county jail.

Battery is the unwanted touching of another. The "touching" need only be that, a touch. It does not require any force, solely that it be unwanted. For more information on battery or any other criminal matter, contact David Seltzer, Miami Criminal Defense Attorney 24/7 for a FREE consultation.

In Lee County Florida today, two men where arrested and charged with possession of child pornography.

Fort Myers Cyber Crime and Child Pornography Criminal Defense Lawyer, Free Consultation 24/7. Remember, it is all in the forensics...Cape Coral Child Pornography Criminal Defense Attorney.

David Seltzer, Cyber Crime Defense Lawyer at Balliro, Galasso, Leskovich & Seltzer, LLP, focuses on cyber crime defense.

President Obama today released his new cyber crime policy. Please see link below:

Cyberspace Policy Review: Assuring a Trusted and Resilient Information and Communications Infrastructure. No surprise cyber crime is on the rise. Obama's administration has indicated that cyber crime is a top priority. With the release of the new policies, let's see what transpires...

Polk County sheriffs office charged 45 people with possession of child pornography. This has been an ongoing investigation lasting over one (1) year.

45 Charged in Florida Child Pornography Sting

David Seltzer, former Miami Dade State Attorney Cyber Crime Prosecutor, is available 24/7 for free consultations. Now practicing Cyber Crime Defense Law, child porn/child pornography cases are being prosecuted in every jurisdiction in the United States. Your freedom and liberties are at stake, call for a free consultation with David Seltzer, Polk County Child Porn Criminal Defense Attorney.

This morning, I had the honor of appearing on the Air America radio show Montel Across America to talk a little about "sexting." This practice (teens sending each other explicit photos via email or text message) has gotten multiple teenagers charged with sex crimes. In response, the Vermont legislature is considering legislation that would lift criminal penalties for kids ages 13-18 caught sending or receiving the pictures, as long as the sender voluntarily sent a picture of him- or herself. The Associated Press reports that experts believe that kids could still be prosecuted for lewd and lascivious conduct, or disseminating indecent materials to a minor, but the law would end the possibility of sending them to adult prisons and requiring them to register as sex offenders for the rest of their lives. As a Miami cyber crime criminal defense lawyer, I strongly support this effort and others like it -- to make the penalties for sexting better fit the crime.

I joined other legal, policy and medical experts to talk about the legal implications of the practice and the proposed Vermont legislation. You can listen to the audio on Air America's Web site.

David S. Seltzer, Miami Criminal Defense Attorney focused on all areas of Criminal Defense Law and Cyber Crime Defense is proud to announce his new association as of counsel to Balliro, Galasso and Leskovich, LLC. Balliro, Galasso and Leskovich is a Criminal Law Firm dedicated and focused on 100% Criminal Defense Litigation. With seven offices, Balliro, Galasso and Leskovich, and David Seltzer, PA, are focused on defending the rights, freedoms and liberties of individuals across the State, both in Federal and State Courts.

For more information or to find the office nearest you, please visit us at www.866defendant.com or the www.criminalgroup.com

Well as we all knew this was inevitable. The US government today made their first big arrest in prosecuting those involved in hiding money from Uncle Sam. Boca Raton accountant was arrested for allegedly hiding millions in tax dollars. As a Miami Criminal Lawyer who practices Tax Evasion, this is just the beginning. After speaking with various colleagues, both attorneys and forensic accountants alike, the United States government is going to look for its money.

The question is, is it worth it to the US government and taxpayers? Will the cost of prosecution be reflective of what they will recover? I submit to you the answer has to be NO. Generally tax issues settle for pennies on the dollar, so why will these instances be any different? With the economy heading the way it is, is this the best use of our government resources? I believe they should attempt to negotiate and resolve these matters outside court once the individuals are identified. If no resolution can be reached, then let the Courts get involved. But I do not believe that on a cost basis recovery analysis this venture will prove fruitful to Uncle Sam. Stay tuned, more to follow I grantee it...the government never goes away quietly...

The New York Times reported today that there have been an influx of mistrials and misguided verdicts relating to juror's disregard for the law and the American system of justice as jurors are turning to the WWW for information. As a Miami Cyber Crime Defense Lawyer, I am not really sure how I feel about this. Our society is now controlled by technology, and dependent on it for our everyday lives. Is it fair to now ask people to go backwards as technology continues to move us forwards?

As a Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Attorney, I understand the ramifications of individuals tainting their perspective on a case with outside information. However, the real question at this point is how do we as a judiciary going to deal with it? This problem is not going to go away, and both sides always want a fair trial, but with technology in our face 24/7, is every jury from here on out going to require sequestration?

Looking at this matter on anther level, a recent NBA player was admonished for Twittering during the halftime of a recent game.

This article from the New York Times is simply the beginning of this debate. Stay tuned...

As a Miami Criminal and Cyber Crime Defense Attorney, I do what I do to help. A colleague of mine sent me the below video and it reminds us that people in life deserve second chances.

David S. Seltzer is a Miami Cybercrime and Criminal Defense Lawyer who practices throughout the State of Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, in both State and Federal Court. Please call 24/7 for your FREE confidential consultation.

In a recent announcement, Myspace.com removed 90,000 registered sex offenders from its website. What is interesting to me as a Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer, is how many of those individuals removed may have been in violation of their sex offender conditions by being online? And if so, will they be prosecuted for the violation?

Usually sexual crimes involving minors committed in today's world involve restrictions on what individuals can and cannot do. In almost all circumstances I have experienced, internet usage has been severally restricted. If an individual who is a registered sexual offender or predator is on probation and requires the use of a computer to work, their freedom to surf the internet is limited. In most cases the machine is equipped with either a keystroke logger or some other form of monitoring device, which allows probation to supervise and monitor every move. Website access is limited to only those sites that the individual requires for work, once they are approved by the appropriate agency's involved.

I can imagine very few circumstances that would require an individual on sexual offender or predator probation to be using myspace.com or any other comparable social networking site, such as facebook.com. That being said, one thing we as a society need to address is, are all individuals who are forced to register as sex offenders, really sex offenders, in the sense that are they a danger to the community? And how long until the courts attempt to impose a lifelong ban on internet usage by sex offenders or predators?

In my opinion each situation must be visited on a case-by-case basis, only after a careful review and understanding of the underlying facts. Working as a Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Attorney, I come across all types of criminal activity and each case must be looked at in a vacuum, as no two cases are alike. Some individuals end up in situations where they are not a danger to the community, and are labeled for the rest of their life.

Case on point, as a Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer, I represent an individual who had consensual intercourse with a minor when he was barely an adult. Unfortunately, he does not qualify under the new Romeo & Juliette laws, and now with a wife and two kids, has nowhere to live since he has been evicted from his home once his landlord learned of his status. Miami Dade County told him to use the MacArthur Causeway as his registered address. Is that what we as a society have become? The city in which he lives does not truly allow sex offenders to live there. However, they are willing to look at each case on a case-by-case basis and if a court of competent jurisdiction makes a finding that the individual is not a danger to the community, then the city will allow him to continue to reside there. Just one of the many reasons why the legislature needs to take another crack at the registration statutes, because sometimes good people get caught in the crossfire.

In honor of the nationwide opening of the movie Defiance, staring Daniel Craig, and my impending nuptials to the grand niece of the Bielski Brother's here is history we cannot forget.

South Florida Criminal Defense Attorney. Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer. Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Attorney. Cyber Crime Defense Lawyer. Miami Cyber Crime Defense Attorney. Miami Criminal Defense Attorney.

For the past week or two, a hot topic in news outlets around the U.S. has been “sexting” -- a practice among teenagers of sending naked or near-naked pictures of themselves via text message to friends, boyfriends and girlfriends. ABC News reports that many teens then forward the pictures to friends or post them online, where they can spread quickly. The On Parenting blog at the Washington Post says that 22% of girls and 18% of boys reported having sent these pictures electronically.

As you might imagine, this can have profoundly negative consequences for the teens’ social lives -- but in some cases, it’s worse. A few teenagers around the country have actually been charged with making or possessing child pornography because of these pictures. In Wisconsin, a 17-year-old boy was charged with possession after posting naked pictures of his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend on the Web. Four middle-schoolers in Alabama were arrested for exchanging photos. And in New York, a 16-year-old is facing prison for soliciting and sending pictures of his 15-year-old girlfriend to friends.

As a cyber crimes defense attorney in South Florida, I do not believe that our child pornography laws were designed for these situations. The teens usually take their own pictures and voluntarily share them, which makes it difficult to see it as the kind of exploitation of children that Florida child pornography statutes were intended to punish. In fact, under Florida state law, actual sexual activity between young adults ages 16 to 21 is not criminalized under “normal sex offender rules” -- but “sexting” may still be. (As far as I know, Florida has not yet seen this type of prosecution.)

Sending pictures to a third party without the subject’s consent may be another matter. This is certainly unkind, and courts or lawmakers may decide that it’s a criminal activity as well. However, a conviction for possession of child pornography in Florida draws up to five years in prison for each picture or video, plus a lifelong requirement to register as a sex offender. This seems like an overly harsh punishment for a crime that at least started out consensual.

Miami Criminal Defense Attorney, the saga continues...to carry or not to carry?

More on Athletes and Firearms.

The Santa Rosa Press-Gazette reported Dec. 2 that an Air Force serviceman was arrested for possession of child pornography. According to the article, the Cyber Crime Unit in Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum’s office found pornographic images of children online and traced them back to the man’s computer. In April, law enforcement seized the computer and an external hard drive, on which a forensic analyst found multiple images and videos alleged to be child pornography. The man is charged with 15 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of promoting the sexual performance of a child, carrying a total of 255 years in prison.

Unfortunately, the article doesn’t go into details about the images and how they were produced. But as a criminal defense attorney specializing in cyber crimes, I can see many possible defenses for this man, just from the few facts presented. For one thing, evidence that something was sent from a person’s computer is not evidence that it was sent by that person. You may not realize it, but viruses and “malware” can and regularly do quietly install themselves on vulnerable computers, which allows them to send and receive all kinds of things without the owner’s knowledge or permission. That was the case for a Massachusetts state worker I wrote about back in June. Of course, another human could also have used the machine.

Either way, once this stuff is on your computer, it can be automatically transferred to an external hard drive or other storage medium by backup software, thus giving law enforcement “evidence” that you collect it. There are many technical pitfalls like this when it comes to tracing electronic evidence. Others include easy-to-fake timestamps, “spoofed” identifying information and lack of accountability for Internet users and companies overseas. If an alleged solicitation was accomplished through Internet servers in another state, you can be charged with a federal crime, even if everyone involved lives in Florida. If you’re charged with this kind of crime, it is essential to find a lawyer experienced in cyber crimes defense, who understands where to look for these small but potentially exonerating details.

Finally, I’d like to point out that the man in this case is being charged under a relatively new Florida law: The Cyber Crimes Against Children Act of 2007. Among other things, this law doubled the penalty for promoting or distributing certain images of a child, which may explain the lengthy potential prison sentence. Whatever the outcome, I hope justice is served.

As a Miami Dade Criminal Defense Lawyer pondering Plaxico Buress’ latest off the field saga, I guess the real question that sports fans have to ask one another is why do people who have it all feel the need to do stupid things? Just a thought, but if I was making $206,000.00 a week playing football, carrying concealed weapon into a night club and shooting myself would not be at the top of the list of things a Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Attorney would consider to be a fun night out.

Under Florida law, carrying a concealed firearm is third (3) degree felony punishable by up to five (5) years in prison. However, that being said, discharging a firearm in public carries an additional penalty of up to a year in jail. Under Florida law, if the individual is not a convicted felon, there are no minimum mandatory sentences, unlike New York. The long and short of it is, Plaxico Buress, next time you are stupid and want to lose $824,000.00 do it in a state where the penalties aren’t so harsh.

See Giants' Pierce to testify for grand jury.

The Supreme Court of the United States has “drawn the line in the sand” about what is and is not child pornography. See Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition. So is taking pictures of your children in the bathtub, or them running around the house naked child pornography? Having been a prosecutor in Miami and dealing with cyber crimes/child pornography, and now a criminal defense lawyer, it is simply something you cannot explain. You know child pornography when you see it. Art is still art, and there is nothing illegal about taking pictures of children clothed, or nude. The question you have to ask yourself when determining if the image is child pornography is, what is the focus of the image? Is the purpose of the image sexual in nature? Does the image focus on a certain part of the minor’s body? The list goes on from there as to what factor government officials use in determining what is and is not child pornography.

That being said, images that don’t fall under child pornography may fall under the category of child erotica. Child erotica is not illegal to possess. However, it is often times difficult and open to many varying degrees of interpretation as to whether something qualifies as child pornography or child erotica. Furthermore, depending on your State laws and the position of the US Attorney in your State, possession of child erotica may be a crime.

In a recent article published by an affiliate of the Miami New Times, the author published images of her children in various stages of undress. (See Newspapers nude child photos draw police review). Now let me state that I have not seen the images, but from what I gather, the focus was no sexual in nature, rather artistic. So why the uproar? It is an election year and politicians can’t be seen as soft on any type of crime that may involve minors. The courts have settled the issue, however, like anything else dealing with the law it will be continually debated for years to come. But again, child pornography is just something you know when you see it, and unfortunately leaves a lot open for interpretation. So ladies and gentleman, the moral of the story is keep your family photos to yourself!

Our family, who had never, ever been touched by any type of legal situation before, found ourselves in a desperate situation. My husband was arrested for a cyber crime - online solicitation, and we were thrust in the middle of a confusing, frightening, unfamiliar world. I immediately began checking on attorneys. I knew we had to move and move fast. I wanted the very best Florida criminal lawyer there was. I also wanted one familiar with cyber crime. Over and over again the name of David Seltzer, Miami Criminal Computer Crime Lawyer kept coming up. I was told if I wanted the best- he was it. I knew with situations like this you didn’t play around. My husband’s very life depended on quality representation. I contacted Mr. Seltzer, Miami Criminal Cyber Crime Attorney, and he immediately took control of the situation. They arrested my husband in our home state of Kentucky and took him to Florida. Mr. Seltzer’s people met my husband at the jail and got him released. They rented a motel room where he could wait until he was allowed to return to KY. He never had to spend one night in jail in Florida. I was home here in Kentucky and I was panicking, I didn’t know what to expect or what to do. I think Mr. Seltzer, Miami Criminal Computer Lawyer, called me at least 10 times a day during that first week. He gave me his personal cell phone number and gave me permission to use it anytime I needed it. When he says he is available 24/7 – he means it! He definitely went the extra mile to walk us through the court system step by step. Although this crime had the potential of 15 years in jail and a minimum of 21 months, my husband did not have to serve any jail time at all. We cannot convey how important it is to have a good attorney in cases like this. Everyone was right when they told me Mr. Seltzer was the very best criminal attorney in Florida. He is not only knowledgeable about cyber crimes, and computer and internet crimes, he was previously a prosecuting attorney who dealt with cyber crimes in Miami. Mr. Seltzer, Miami Criminal Attorney is very assertive and he is on top of every aspect of your legal defense. Nothing gets by him. If you are facing legal problems, I urge you to contact him immediately. Mr. Seltzer, Miami Criminal Lawyer did an outstanding job for us and we give him our highest recommendation.

Signed
A GRATEFUL WIFE

People always wonder, do athletes get special treatment? The answer is, in typical lawyer speak, "it depends." There are programs around the country designed to give first time offenders a break. A "get out of jail free card," if you will. In Miami, Florida, the program is called Pre-Trial Intervention ("PTI"). The purpose is to show an individual who has committed a qualifying crime what contact with the system is like in hopes to deter any future contact. Generally the conditions of PTI range from fines, donations, courses, to community service hours. Once the conditions are completed, the case is dismissed, the individual is eligible to have their record sealed and expunged, and life goes on!

So, athletes and celebrities who are also first time offenders are entitled to the same treatment. Just because they are in the public eye doesn't mean we should treat them differently. As I was working earlier today, I received a call from my home town of Montreal from Mitch Melnick at radio station Team 990. He wanted to know more about the Montreal Canadians hockey player whose case was dismissed in Tampa, Florida earlier today. As I understand the facts of the case, Ryan O'Byrne, along with a teammate Tom Kostopoulos, were charged in Tampa in February for an incident relating to theft and resisting arrest. Kostopoulos' case was dismissed; however, O'Byrne's remained open until today when it was dismissed in exchange for an apology and community service hours. (Charges dropped against Habs' O'Byrne after court apology, community service)

There are a whole host of reasons why a case gets dismissed, but again if a first time offender is taking responsibility and cooperating with the authorities, this type of result is not uncommon, famous or not. People make mistakes in life and the criminal justice system is supposed to be "somewhat" rehabilitative, no?!

Florida Lawyer Segment

Cyber crime is on the rise. Not a novel or new statement, but what is novel and new is the way that law enforcement, attorneys, and judges are dealing with this new area of the law. South Florida (Miami and Broward County) is no exception or stranger to the increased cyber crime. Cyber law crosses into various aspects of our current legal system – civil, domestic, criminal, etc. This list is meant to give you a glimpse into the world of cyber crime and what lies ahead for the defense bar. Combating these case is often timely and costly, but with the right strategy and defense, cyberspace may hold the key to vindication!

Here is part 1 of the Top 10 Do's and Don'ts on various issues concerning cyber crime cases (Part 2 to follow in the upcoming weeks):

6. Chat logs, are they what they purport to be? Has your agency caught up with the Jones’? What type of technology are they using to track your client’s chats? Most agencies are new at the whole cybercrime game, so they are doing things the old fashioned way; they are cutting and pasting the chat logs into a word file. Often times you can argue that is not the “best evidence,” as the data is easily manipulated and often times missing lines of text as well as other important text entries. There is software out there that allows the undercover agent to track the conversations, whereby they don’t have the ability to manipulate the data. Check your jurisdiction’s case law. But the best evidence is always the logs. Computers don’t generally retain chat logs, but often times forensically you can recover excerpts, which can be helpful.

7. IP Logs. Always check the little things that can be overlooked. I have seen it before, where an agency is investigating a crime and has subpoenaed IP logs, date/time, etc., but has either forgotten to include the appropriate time zone, the wrong time zone, or didn’t take into account daylight savings time. So make sure the government agency has subpoenaed the right IP logs. For example, if the issue is an AOL email that was sent containing suspected child pornography, the correct IP log to subpoena would be found in the header information of the email sent, not the IP log captured when the AOL screen name registered the account.

8. Is your client a collector? Generally speaking, someone who possesses child pornography has tendencies that are obsessive compulsive. They collect images and videos, and will usually have hundreds if not thousands of images. So what does that mean for the client who is found with one or two? Very important not to dismiss your clients statements as to how or why they are there. Computers these days do a lot of crazy things and if your client only has a few pictures, I would get ready to dig in your heals in order to determine where they came from and how they got there. (Refer back to No. 1 – Forensic Expert is key!)

9. Does the search warrant authorize what the agency actually did? Computer search warrants can be very technical and complex these days. With that being said, the judge who is reading the warrant often times doesn’t understand what the warrant specifically authorizes. Then again, sometimes neither does the affiant of the warrant. This tip on search warrants should be read it conjunction with number 3, because when you are deposing the affiant you want to grill them on the warrant to ensure that they accurately portrayed the sworn affidavit to the judge. Fruit of the poisonous tree…Additionally, information contained in a warrant may be inaccurate. For example, the affiant may have used an incorrect IP address as its source of probable cause, wrong property description, may not have had probable cause to believe the evidence they are seeking would be stored on a computer, and the list goes on. Furthermore, does the warrant even authorize a search of the computer and/or additional seized media post-seizure? If it does authorize a search, what does it authorize a search for? If it is documents, and they discover images of child pornography, do they continue to search without a warrant, or did they stop to secure a new warrant to search? Just a few issues to scratch the surface on warrants.

10. Consent, to what? Agencies often attempt to secure consent to search electronic media rather than get a search warrant. What you need to look for is what was seized, whose electronic media was it, did the person who gave consent have the ability to give consent (does that person use the computer on a regular basis, do they have their own login information, is the computer password protected…). Agency’s investigating cyber crime love to execute the knock-and-talk with a consent waiver in their hand. Target is usually not home and the girlfriend, wife, or adult child, signs on behalf of the target that has no idea what is going on. Later on appeal, the State argues they had probable cause and through inevitable discovery, they would have gotten a warrant. I submit to you that’s bogus. If they had probable cause, they would have come warrant in hand, and but for the consent to search form being executed by an individual without authorization, they would not have any evidence.

a. Additionally, depending on your workplace, your client may already have given their employer permission to search their workplace computer. Be it a form you signed on day one of your employment that informed you of the company’s computer policies, or a daily banner that comes up on your screen every time you logon, an employer may be able to give law enforcement what they are asking for. This scenario is wholly dependent on what the banner/notification policy states.

The litany of questions and hypothetical’s is too long for this list, but just be aware that in the land of cyberspace, there are always alternative theories and legal issues that will keep the government agencies on their toes and require exploration by the defense bar deep into the world of cyberspace!

David S. Seltzer is a former Miami-Dade County Cyber Crime State Prosecutor. His practice is limited to criminal defense with a specialty in cyber crime. For more information or to contact David S. Seltzer, please visit www.cybercrimesdefense.com.

First off, thank you to Prof. Patrick Corbett, from Thomas M. Cooley, who passed this story on to me. I recently ran into Patrick at the ABA Cyber Seminar, in Washington, DC. I attended Cooley, prior to transferring to Miami. I transferred for family reasons, but I truly believe that the education at Cooley is one of the best in the country, because they really, truly care about the success of their students.

State worker was charged with possession of child pornography on his workplace computer. A situation that is all too familiar these days. However in this case, the computer wasn't all that accurate. Yes, the computer did possess child pornography, but in filing a case the State must also prove that the user knew (or had dominion on control over the images). In this situation the State had neither. In a forensic review of the computer, the defendant was able to prove that he was not accessing or viewing child pornography, rather the computer was. What?

This is not the first instance of computers doing things on their own. Basically what happens is that you either intentionally, or unintentionally (virus), download a software application. They come in many forms, but the gist of the application is the same - it seeks out pornography, and doesn't differentiate between child and adult. It then appears to the world that your "machine" has been viewing pornography, and thus the police investigation/charges.

Who's fault is this? You would think that in the "pursuit of justice," that the police would be cognizant of the various types of viruses out there and when they forensically analyze the media they seize, that they would search for them. In reality what happens is that due to the backlog of media that is waiting to be forensically analyzed throughout this country, once the analyst discovers the evidence to make its case, the forensic review stops and the case gets filed. That begs the question, who really has the burden of proof?

It just goes to show you that you really can't judge a book by it's cover. For the article, click here: State Worker Cleared on Child Pornography Charges

Breakers jewel thief sentenced to prison

By LARRY KELLER

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, June 12, 2008

WEST PALM BEACH- — Debonair international jewel thief Nordine Herrina traded his expensive suits for drab jailhouse blues in court today, where he pleaded guilty to stealing two rings from a Palm Beach jewelry store that retailed for $1.5 million.

Herrina, 32, was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison after agreeing to plead guilty to two counts of grand theft of more than $100,000. He was credited for the two years he has been in jail, reducing the actual sentence to 18 months. Each charge carried a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

A French citizen, Herrina was a globe-trotting jewel thief extraordinaire who pocketed millions in baubles, authorities say. Dapper and accompanied by a beautiful woman, Herrina used sleight of hand to swindle jewelers in Italy, France, Switzerland, California and New York, they say. On at least one occasion, he claimed he was Prince Khalid of the Saudi royal family.

He was imprisoned in Italy in December 2002, then transported to Switzerland where he was sentenced to the time he already served in Italy. But the United States began extradition proceedings to have him face charges in Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County and Orange County, California.

He arrived in Miami earlier this year. A judge there also sentenced him to the time served abroad, and ordered him to pay $145,000 in restitution. His next stop: the Palm Beach County courthouse.

Before retired Judge Roger Colton sentenced him today, Herrina gave him a neatly printed letter in which he said he has reformed. Unmarried, he has a 5-year-old daughter, he wrote.

"I am suffering for all this years lost from life from 26-32 years," he wrote. "I will like to see my daughter. I have learn a lot in prison. I will ... come back in the society and give the best of me."

If the way Herrina filched two rings from the Diamont Noir jewelry shop at The Breakers hotel in April 2001, was typical of how he operated, he was as smooth as a perfect pearl. Here's how Palm Beach police — who worked with the FBI and Interpol — say he did it:

Wearing a navy blue double-breasted suit, white shirt, violet tie and carrying a black alligator-type wallet, Herrina walked into the shop with a buxom blonde wearing a low-cut, off- the-shoulder blouse.

He asked to see a ring in the display case, and the blonde tried it on, then returned it to Stephanie Halimi, the store owner's daughter. Herrina then asked if Halimi had something bigger for his wife, explaining that the blonde was his girlfriend.

Herrina was shown a larger ring. He asked to speak to Halimii in a back office. Then he asked to see the box for the ring. Next, he asked to speak to employee John Goodkin, saying he preferred to do business with a man, because he was Arab.

Herrina put five 100-dollar bills on a counter and said he wanted to buy both rings — one for his wife, one for his girlfriend. The larger ring was a platinum, 9.15 carat, cushion cut diamond, flanked with two half-moon shaped diamonds. Retail value: $1.06 million.

The smaller ring was set in 18 carat yellow gold and platinum, with an 11 carat, fancy yellow pear-shaped diamond, flanked with two pear-shaped clear diamonds. Retail value: $441,140.

Herrina told Goodkin that he would return to purchase the rings after he went to lunch. Goodkin thought he watched Herrina place the rings back in a black velvet box, which was placed in a safe. He asked Goodkin not to show the rings to anybody else.

As Goodkin was about to close the store at 7 p.m., the "Arab" and the blonde had not returned. He went to the safe and discovered both rings were missing.

Police believe Herrina and his friend scammed a Boca Raton jeweler out of a $130,000 bracelet the same day, and were thwarted by a second jeweler in that city. The next day they were trying the same ruse at Cartier and Christian Dior shops in New York City, they say.

Now Herrina is headed to a Florida state prison, but maybe not for long. He still has charges pending in Orange County, California, which has the right to grab him immediately, said his Miami attorney, David Seltzer. If convicted there, he could serve his sentence in California, Seltzer said.

As part of Herrina's plea deal on Thursday, he was ordered to pay $1.5 million, plus $846 in court costs. But Judge Colton told Herrina that once he finishes his U.S. prison sentence, he likely will be deported — he still must serve a two-year sentence in France — and barred from returning here.

"There's no way of enforcing those judgments," Seltzer said.

Athlete’s, alcohol and drugs seem to be dominating the news media these days. From Cedric Benson and his multiple drinking and driving arrests, to ex-DB Dexter Reid pleading to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute (he was acquitted of carrying a concealed weapon), to Nick Kaczur, a member of the New England Patriots, arrested for possession of OxyContin, a controlled substance, and in the middle of a federal government investigation, to Kenny Stabler, a former NFL star arrested for his third DUI. And that ladies and gentlemen is just the recent cases of alcohol and drugs in the NFL.

Everyone deserves a second chance in life, but should athletes, the people our youth look up to be held to a higher standard? Are they the ones our youth are seeking to emulate? Drugs in sports are nothing new. Major sports are addressing the use of narcotics with the public arrests of numerous players, and the federal government spending tax payer money inquiring as to what’s going on, and for what, what does the federal government hope to accomplish? Should an athlete’s careers be tarnished forever, or are they human, and entitled to error?

Having been a prosecutor in Miami-Dade County Florida, I have dealt with my fair share of drug cases, but I can tell you not all jurisdictions deal with cases in the same manner. Miami is very forgiving to first time drug offenders, sometimes second. The Court’s have programs in place such as drug court, whereby the defendant participates in court ordered treatment and following a set amount of time, absent no set-backs, the case would be dismissed and the individual does not have a felony record.

The judicial system is supposed to be rehabilitative, but not all people see it that way. Some people perceive it to be punishment first, and rehabilitate second. I can understand that mentality for certain crimes, but remember the book, Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff, people need to pick and choose their battles. Scarring someone for life for one indiscretion isn’t what we as a society ought to be doing or I don’t believe ever set out to do. The law is here to help and guide us. If we slip up, then so be it, we work to fix it, but should it mean your life is scarred and ruined? Guess it depends where you commit the crime…

State and Federal agencies are cracking down on child pornography in an effort to protect the nation’s young from repeated online victimization. Internet Service Providers, such as Verizon, Time Warner, and Sprint , have announced that they will be spending in excess of $1 million dollars to purge their systems of anything child porn related. For more details see: Verizon, Time Warner Cable, Sprint to Block Child Porn Sites

The question is at the end of the day, how will this really help protect our nation’s youths? Will all the nation’s ISP’s follow suit? Will this become legislation? If the Federal Government steps in, what happens when this is challenged in the court’s over free speech and first amendment issues, just like Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, 535 U.S. 234 (2002). This new twist in fighting child pornography is not over...

So my clients had their hearings, which were supposedly impartial. There is good news and bad news, but I am still unclear about the bad news. If you recall from the WSVN Channel 7 story the young lady who was victimized and sucker punched in the altercation, she was suspended for the remainder of the semester and kicked off campus. She now has no where to live and no money, and of course, the University will not return the money she paid for housing and tuition. She is however, allowed to come back to school next semester, so long as she pays her tuition and expenses. Go figure...This is not the end of her story...

As for the budding cameraman, he was allowed back into school and into housing, with certain restrictions. The question is, due to the amount of time he missed because of the University's suspension, he may not be able to complete the semester, which again will require him to pay more money to the University to make up the classes. All for videoing an incident on school property and posting it on YouTube.com. But again, his future has been affected and this may not be the end of this situation for him either.

The University showed their true colors here for what clearly appears to be financial gain. As I said in my interview with Channel 7 WSVN Fox, the University was not happy for the "black eye" this incident gave the University. Over 500 people saw the video on YouTube.com and god forbid that affects the Universities enrollment as there was a physical altercation on campus.

I have learned that last year a student broke down a door on campus and pulled a knife on another student in the dorms. End result, that student was not expelled and continues to be a student at Barry University. Another incident involving a female and a fight on campus, still has that female student enrolled at Barry University. So why has my client, who is CLEARLY the victim in this incident, and solely protecting herself and her safety, no longer a student this semester at Barry University? My client was a good student, involved in student leadership, and would give tours of the campus to prospective students. I am at a loss for the way the University is handling this situation, but then again, the saga continues...

Is your information safe? People take a lot for granted when it comes to the internet and their financial information. For example, the simplest thing that most people forget to do when using a public computer is making sure they are logged off and thus, the person after you doesn't access your information. Internet security is an issue that it is at the forefront of countries security all over the world. Internet hacking is the crime de jour, and the new target for organized crime. No longer do people walk into banks and rob them like Bonnie & Clyde, they do it from the comfort of their living room. What are you doing to make sure that your information is secure?

So when did we lose the right to freedom of speech? The law doesn't allow private institutions to thwart the law, so why does Barry University think they have the right to bully around two young students? Kids will be kids, and I am the first one to state that all parties may not have clean hands in this situation, but as far as Barry University is concerned, while on SCHOOL PROPERTY, my clients did nothing wrong.

If you haven't already heard, Barry University has initiated expulsion proceedings against two students, both of which have 3.0+ grades, and one of whom is a student leader. Both students have aspirations of higher education and distinguished professional careers. Now the only thing that stands in their way is private politics.

A video of the incident which occurred on Barry University's campus April 4, 2008, was posted on YouTube. What the video shows, is a loud discussion among some students that drew a crowd. My client, the budding camera man decided to film the altercation and include his own play-by-play commentary. My other client was involved in the debate, but as the video clearly shows, she WAS NOT the aggressor, rather the victim when she was sucker punched by another female. Present during this altercation was the resident adviser as well as numerous campus security. Kudos to the student RA, who was the only one from the school who attempted to stop the incident.

50 States security, one of Barry University's rent-a-guard patrols, is seen on video and asked if he was going to stop this incident, to which there was no response. Also, in violation of school policy, the security guards hired to protect the students failed to file incident reports.

Some great filming if you ask me. Lots of different camera angles, shots of the crowd, the interested parties, the school officials. Barry has taken the position at this time that only my two clients, and the girl who threw the punches are being expelled. Of course that position changed once Fox News Miami got involved. The University was planning on identifying every student who stood idly by and watched the altercation and expelled them in accordance with some obscure school policy. But of course, as the media got involved they backed off that course of action.

So what makes my clients any different, why are they being railroaded here? In an attempt to resolve this matter today, I contacted both the Dean of Students Office and the Legal Department. End result nothing was done. When asked if I can attend a meeting with my clients earlier today, answer no, the public is not allowed to attend hearings and meetings. Ok, so my clients then met with Jeff Edwards of the University who asked them to sign a document admitting the charges against them. Why would they sign a document admitting something that didn't happen, just to allow the school to expel them...Barry clearly has shown no interest in doing what is best for their students, rather, they are simply concerned with their image. My clients didn't break any laws. My clients are the victims here.

Here we have two students from out of state, with no money and no place to sleep. The University has informed them that if they return to their dorm rooms, which they are continuing to pay for, or to the cafeteria, to eat meals they are continuing to pay for, then they will be arrested for trespassing and charged criminally. So now I have to clients, which I will gladly continue to feed and make sure that they have housing, but what is Barry doing to protect these young students who they have made homeless? Are they going to give them back their money, voluntarily? Of course not, but then again that is why we have courts.

Below is the piece that aired on WSVN 7 Miami today. I am working of putting the entire video up, so check back soon so you can be the judge as to what is really going on here. This is a travesty of justice and the University is trying to sweep it under the rug. Well, I won't let them.

It is with great pleasure that I announce the launch of www.davidsseltzer.com.

Please check it out and let us know how the Law Offices of David S. Seltzer, PA can help protect your freedom and rights. Don't delay, let a former Miami-Dade County Prosecutor help protect your good name and reputation. Contact us today.

So I was watching a television program and there was an interesting storyline. The program addressed a plethora of child pornography issues, which are clearly becoming an increasing concern for law enforcement as technology quickly advances. Without going into the entire show, the two interesting issues were: Youth Enhancement Software (Image Manipulation) and Steganography .

The program focused on the landmark case of Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, 535 U.S. 234 (2002), possession of virtual child pornography is not illegal, rather free speech. And what has developed as a result of that is a world that law enforcement and the Supreme Court cannot control. Technology that is used for “good,” age progression software; is now being used in reverse – age regression. So essentially, legal aged girls are being photoshopped back into their youth, and the child pornography is legal. According to the Supreme Court, that’s legal. Virtual child pornography or manipulated images are going to make prosecution of child pornography a whole new world. As these images start popping up around the world, prosecutors will no longer be able to stand up there and state that the images are actual real children. Expert testimony is going to drive the cost of prosecution on these cases through the roof, and with cutbacks all over the country in law enforcement, it will be interesting to see what gives, the trial tactics, or the Constitutional right to “free speech…”? If anyone image in the defendant’s control is not “authentic,” the entire prosecution is compromised.

Another interesting issue addressed in the program was Steganography . Basically, it’s a secret image or text hidden behind another image. This is interesting because it is becoming more prevalent on the web and easily available to anyone who can download the necessary software. It’s not used solely for child pornography, but it’s been its most recent adaptation. To the naked eye, without the appropriate software, looking at a picture of the Statue of Liberty can really be pornography. When you decrypt the code, you will not see any lost pixels or portions of the image. So sending it over the internet can often allow the image to travel undetected through internet photo scanner programs (a discussion for another day).

It makes you wonder about technology today and its effects on the investigation and prosecution of child pornography, what does tomorrow hold? Technology is going to continue to be an uphill battle for all involved in protecting our youth. So again, what has to give to protect our children, whose rights, free speech?

Sorry for the absence to all my loyal readers, been a busy month moving to our new digs. But I am back and today showing support for a near and dear friend of mine running for Judge. Here is a letter that I received that I wanted to share.
___________________________________________________________________________
Dear Neighbor:

Jorge E. Cueto, a resident of Country Walk, has filed as a candidate for Circuit Court Judge, in Group 11 of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Jorge has over thirty years of professional experience in both the private and public sectors. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in October 1992. As an Assistant State Attorney in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, he prosecuted defendants in the County, Juvenile and Felony divisions of the Miami-Dade courts. His last assignment with the State Attorney’s Office has been in the elite Public Corruption Unit.

Prior to joining the State Attorney’s Office, Jorge was legal counsel and vice president for a mid-western corporation. In that capacity, he practiced general commercial and corporate law, and executed a number of mergers and acquisitions. Jorge also served honorably as a member of the Miami-Dade Police Department for sixteen years. His last assignment was Commander of General Investigations for the Cutler Ridge District. Jorge was assigned to the County Board of Commissioners where he was named Staff Counsel to the Public Safety Committee of the Board. Jorge is conversant in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Italian and has a working knowledge of Russian. He has taught several topics as adjunct professor in the College of Urban and Public Affairs of Florida International University. Among these courses were Comparative Legal Systems, Criminal Law, Organized Crime, Origins of Terrorism and Public Personnel Management.

Jorge graduated from Immaculata-LaSalle High School in Miami, Florida. He attended Boston University and received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry/Biochemistry from the University of Miami. He earned a Juris Doctor from the School of Law of the University of Miami. He also attained an ISO 2000 Quality Auditor Certification through DePaul University and has designed quality control systems conforming to this international standard. Jorge Cueto successfully completed the required CPA curriculum for the State of Illinois CPA at the College of DuPage. He has been admitted to the Forensic Accounting Master Program at Florida Atlantic University.

Jorge’s personal and professional affiliations include membership in The Florida Bar, The Cuban American Bar Association, The American Chemical Society, The League of Prosecutors, Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society, University of Miami Law School Alumni Association, The Historical Museum of South Florida and the International Police Association. He currently serves as a board member of the Miami-Dade Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust.

Jorge Cueto has been married to Ana Maria Cardin Cueto for over thirty years and they are blessed with three adult daughters: Elizabeth, AnaMari and Lauren.

Because of his extensive public service to this community, intellect and commitment to the law and justice, Jorge would be a fair, impartial and well-balanced judge, equipped with a varied technical legal background and the richness of the life he has led. That is why I am asking you to endorse and support his candidacy and contributing in any way you can. Enclosed you will find a self-addressed envelope. Please join me in voting for my husband, Jorge, for Circuit Court Judge on August 26th, 2008.

Sincerely,

Ana Maria Cardin-Cueto

Jorge Cueto for Judge!

So you again thought you were safe. What people have to realize is that the cost of doing business has gone up in today's world, mainly due to stories like this one. Companies spend millions of dollars a year to protect their infrastructure as well as their clients valuable personal information, only to discover that everything they thought they were doing right has been hacked. As technology advances and we as a society get away from the traditional telephone system, cyber space has become the new switchboard. Not only is it cheaper to make a call on the internet, but you often times have more control over various telephone features that most people don't realize exist. I have been a Voice Over IP user for years and what has essentially occured is that I am always connected to my numbers, be it online, through my blackberry, or a simple text message. I guess there is such a thing as being too accessible.

This nationwide FBI investigation has lead to the arrest of multiple suspects in conjunction with a voice over IP scam (VoIP). What the subjects would do is hack VoIP companies and steal online telephone minutes and resell them. Check out the video and see how these hackers bragg about the capabilities of the companies to secure themselves.

Continue reading "Voice Over IP Hacker Arrested in Miami, a new Cyber Crime" »

So what do you do with all the junk mail you receive about your personal information? Do you believe everything that you see in an email? If so watch this video and educate yourself as to what really goes on in cyberspace. More of my comments to follow.

I know this is probably old Florida news by now, but it just makes you wonder about all the money the government invests into protecting our children and then something like this happens. Agencies are getting more money to fight crimes of this nature, but are they really making any headway? I have the utmost respect for law enforcement – having been a former prosecutor – but where are all the funds going? I know in Miami for example, some of the finest officers in the country, they are undermanned and overworked.

A few months back it was a prosecutor who killed himself after being exposed in an undercover child exploitation sting. Are we creating monsters as a society by continually exposing individuals (voluntarily) to child pornography and solicitation cases? Should there be continual review processes in place to ensure that the people we pay to protect our children are in fact doing so and not “falling off the wagon?”

I have no doubt that our law enforcement personnel are doing their job and it’s only a few bad eggs spoiling the bunch, but there needs to be some oversight to make sure that we weed out the bad apples and make sure we monitor those exposed to these crimes. This DCF arrest doesn’t spell the end to government workers involved in child exploitation scandals, the question is how is the government going to guard against it?

DCF Worker Accused of Using Children to Make Porn

In today’s day and age you would be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t know how to use a computer. Computers are everywhere and control everything. So is it surprising to hear that according to the US Department of Defense, the volume of cyber crime grew by 54% in the last year. If you think about it, the target area, or the playground as some individuals might call it, as grown virtually in cyber space. Paper is a thing of the past and everything has gone high tech. Banks, credit cards, you name it and it involves a computer.

But the real question is, are the big companies the only ones that have to be concerned? The answer is clear. With a 54% increase in cyber crime, it is a problem that everyone has to take notice of. Small and medium sized enterprises should be more aware, to the individual working online with personal information.

As a defense attorney who specializes in cyber crimes, I get calls all the time from people who have had their personal websites hacked, to their identities stolen. Of course there are remedies and manners of redress that are available, but we as individuals have to be prepared. We have to take the necessary steps to protect ourselves from cyber crime. The governments can only do so much. The local police and government agencies are overworked, under financed, and under manned to deal with the increase in cyber crime. And the crimes that they do focus on are the high priority, high profile crimes, as they should. However, then who is left to look after the little guy?

You. So be mindful of where you enter your personal information. Protect your computers with the appropriate software, and trust no one. Your information is sacred and if you lose it, it will spell trouble for you.

Let’s think for a second what the ramifications would be like if Miami, or the Eastern Sea Board, or the United States was without internet and telephone communication…hmm…sheer and utter chaos? Probably. We have become a society dependent on technology; we will never be able to live without it. So how are we affected by the outages in the Mideast?

As a nation cognizant of its costs, numerous companies outsource work to the Mideast. Therefore, I am certain that this Mideast shut down is having a serious negative effect on companies’ worldwide. The problem may take weeks to fix, but the lost profits might take much longer to recoup. At the end of the day, who is to blame for this incident, and how can we see that it never happens again? What this has shown us is that our technological infrastructure can be breached, be accidentally or intentionally, governments have to aware of areas that can cause serious damage to a nation’s economy. At the end of the day who is to be held accountable?

Third undersea Internet cable cut in Mideast

Hollywood is getting into the act. The new so-called technological thriller is Hollywood’s take on cyber crime. The movie’s premise is a cyber-crime FBI agent who investigates killings, where the weapon of choice is the internet. The movie title “Untraceable,” attempts to give people a sense of what is actually capable of happening when using the World Wide Web. The possibilities seem to be endless, but are they? Maybe to a point…

But in the end, possible, reasonable, or Hollywood? Cyber crime is here to stay. The question is how are the agencies that investigate the crimes going to deal with them.

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures