I can’t be the only person who wasn’t completely surprised by the news
that, according to IT security firm AVG, kids as young as 11 are
beginning to write malicious hack code to wreak some havoc and steal some
data in the cyber world. We’ve heard plenty about hackers in their mid to late
teens, but this fits neatly with the image of delinquent behaviour by junior
geeks who are happier staring at a screen than going out in the real world, and
is something you could believe of those who would like to but don’t have the
nerve to spray graffiti or smash up a bus shelter.
But while the story sounds credible, the evidence seems limited. AVG
came up with one solid example, and a lot of talk about patterns that suggest
there may be a growing number of kids barely of secondary school age who are up
to no good in the cyber world. It’s not clear if it’s a genuine trend or
speculation based on a handful of cases.
It’s worth remembering that a story like this can do some good for the
company that raises the alarm. It says it is paying attention to serious issues
and concerned about the wide world in which it works. That’s why they carry out
research and publish studies aimed at asserting their credentials as thought
leaders; and when it makes the national news it’s a result for the PR team.
But it has to be remembered that this is all part of the marketing
effort, and that the overall aim of such efforts is to boost a company’s sales.
It would need a lot of time studying the data, and probably a lot of expertise,
for anyone to know if the assertions are correct, and I don’t know whether the
evidence behind AVG’s warnings is as strong as it claims. But when something
like this comes from the private sector you know there’s a commercial element
to it.
It might be a real phenomenon, in which case it’s a genuine worry, but
it might be just a storm in a cyber tea cup.
Mark
Say's collection of fiction, Perversities of Faith, is available on amazon.co.uk and amazon.com. Also check out www.marksaywriter.com.
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