V. The Benefits of Change
If the U.S. does not change then the Internet will likely become one of our greatest enemies. We lose money and information to hackers every year, and we could lose something even more valuable. In 2012, a study conducted by Symantec, a computer security company, found that cyber attacks were “costing companies $114 billion per year” (Cyber Security 7). However, if the U.S. had a decent defense then companies would be losing a fraction of what they are losing now, or perhaps even nothing. Furthermore, change would not only benefit major companies, but also the average citizen. Almost all citizens in the United States have personal data that can be stolen by hackers. Credit card theft has become extremely popular among criminals over the years, since it provides a greater reward with little to no risk.
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Craig 1). On average fifteen million people are victim to identity theft every year, which makes their lives much more difficult or completely ruins them (Cyber Security 13). If identity theft and credit card theft were to disappear as a result of change, then many Americans would be spared from having their lives ruined. Additionally, if hackers can ruin the life of a single person then, they should have no problem taking down small businesses. However, some small businesses are not exactly helping themselves either. Businesses that use portable scanners are at risk of being stolen from, since the scanners were made for speed and portability and not security.
VI. Concessions and Rebuttals
However, although it is clear that the United States needs to upgrade their cyber security, many disagree. Government officials, like those who support the Patriot Act, agree that monitoring public Internet activity is the only