A recent Europol report has predicted that the first online murder would take place before the end of 2014, via a hacked internet-connected device.
The 2014 iOCTA (Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment) report, published by Europol's European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), found an increased commercialisation of cybercrime.
The report reveals that in this advanced age of technology, a murderer or terrorist may not even need to be physically present to commit a crime.
For example, a terrorist or a criminal can simply hack into the CAN-BUS technology and take control of everything from airbags and cruise control to power steering systems and breaks of a car. The hacker can then commit a murder, and make it look like an accident.
Similarly, a cybercriminal can hack into a medical device. The report points out it has already warned the US Food and Drug Administration about 300 medical devices at risk of cyber attacks, including pacemakers, implantable insulin pumps, ventilators and defibrillators.
No wonder former US Vice President Dick Cheney even underwent a surgery to turn off the wireless function on his pacemaker (to prevent it from being hacked). Despite literally being a scenario from the television series "Homeland", it is "a pretty valid fear", noted a Washington Post report.
Even smarthomes, which are centrally connected via internet devices, are at the risk of cybercrime.
The report noted that a service-based criminal industry - in which specialists in the virtual underground economy develop products and services to be used by other criminals - is in development.
This 'Crime-as-a-Service' business model drives innovation and sophistication, and provides access to a wide range of services, which facilitate almost any type of cybercrime, the report highlighted.
To combat this new age cybercrime, the Europol report states that a new approach will be needed, such as stronger cross-border cooperation between law enforcement and more public-private partnerships.
The amount and types of digital forensics resources required by law enforcement agencies need to "adapt and grow accordingly", while policymakers need to "stay abreast of the latest developments" to ensure that "effective, efficient and balanced legislation and regulations are in place", the report stressed.
