scholarly journals Blockchain Security: Situational Crime Prevention Theory and Distributed Cyber Systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-59
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Blasco ◽  
Nicholas A. Fett
Keyword(s):  
Crime Prevention ◽  
Situational Crime Prevention ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Security Protocols ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Secure Systems ◽  
Chain Component ◽  
Prevention Methods ◽  
Prevention Theory

The authors laid the groundwork for analyzing the crypto-economic incentives of interconnected blockchain networks and utilize situational crime prevention theory to explain how more secure systems can be developed. Blockchain networks utilize smaller blockchains (often called sidechains) to increase throughput in larger networks. Identified are several disadvantages to using sidechains that create critical exposures to the assets locked on them. Without security being provided by the mainchain in the form of validated exits, sidechains or statechannels which have a bridge or mainchain asset representations are at significant risk of attack. The inability to have a sufficiently high cost to attack the sidechain while mainchain assets can be withdrawn, along with the disconnect between the integrity of the sidechain and the value of the stolen assets are among the top disadvantages. The current study used a vulnerability analysis and theoretical mathematics based on situational crime prevention theory to highlight the attack vectors and prevention methods for these systems. Much of the analysis can be applied to any distributed system (e.g. blockchain network), particularly any supposedly trustless off-chain component. The equations developed in the current study will hold for any two chains that are bridged and pass value back and forth and provides evidence to suggest a public sidechain is likely not a viable option for scalability due to security concerns. Criminal strategies on blockchain networks in the digital realm are similar to criminal strategies in the physical realm; therefore, the application of criminology can lead to more efficient development and ultimately more effective security protocols.

scholarly journals Why internet users’ perceptions of viewing child exploitation material matter for prevention policies

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Hunn ◽  
Caroline Spiranovic ◽  
Jeremy Prichard ◽  
Karen Gelb
Keyword(s):  
Crime Prevention ◽  
Situational Crime Prevention ◽  
Social Attitudes ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Material Matter ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Child Exploitation ◽  
First Time ◽  
Sizeable Minority ◽  
Prevention Theory

There are claims that the societal appetite for ‘child exploitation material’ is increasing. Yet, Australia’s policy response does not include initiatives to dissuade potential offenders from deliberately viewing child exploitation material for the first time (onset). To critically examine this issue, this paper draws on Situational Crime Prevention theory. It argues that (a) many first-time child exploitation material viewers fit the Situational Crime Prevention construct of the Opportunistic Offender and (b) suggests that current policy overlooks the kinds of non-instrumental factors that increase the risk of onset for this group, including doubts about the criminality and harmfulness of viewing child exploitation material. The paper then empirically examines social attitudes to child exploitation material viewing by presenting the findings of a survey of 504 Australian internet users. Results indicate that a sizeable minority of the participants were: unaware that it is a crime to view certain types of child exploitation material in Australia; and held doubts about the harmfulness of viewing child exploitation material. These findings are used to reflect on how the presence of these non-instrumental factors among ordinary internet users may affect the offending readiness of the Opportunistic Offender. Policy implications are then briefly discussed.

Policy Levels for Situational Crime Prevention

2018 ◽  
Vol 679 (1) ◽  
pp. 198-201
Author(s):  
Marcus Felson
Keyword(s):  
Crime Prevention ◽  
Situational Crime Prevention ◽  
Scientific Progress ◽  
Prevention Policy ◽  
Auto Theft ◽  
Prevention Methods

An organizing framework is useful for scientific progress as well as the application of knowledge in practical situations. This article advocates supplementing the classification of situational crime prevention methods, proposing seven levels of classification for how crime prevention policy is applied. The seven levels are organized by distance from the criminal event, and examples of application are offered in liquor control and auto theft reduction.

scholarly journals Situational Crime Prevention and the Ecological Regulation of Green Crime: A Review and Discussion

2018 ◽  
Vol 679 (1) ◽  
pp. 178-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Lynch ◽  
Paul B. Stretesky ◽  
Michael A. Long
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Social Control ◽  
Crime Prevention ◽  
Situational Crime Prevention ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Environmental Crime ◽  
Control Policies ◽  
Economic Forces ◽  
Prevention Theory

Situational crime prevention theory suggests the need for innovative, non-criminal-justice polices to control crime, but that approach has not been widely employed by criminologists addressing the control of environmental crime. Numerous examples of innovative environmental social control practices can be found outside of the criminological literature; but within criminology, such studies have most often been undertaken by conservation criminologists, while green criminologists have undertaken empirical studies illustrating the ineffectiveness of traditional, punitive responses to environmental crime. Here, we briefly review the use of situational crime prevention theory and research by conservation criminologists and provide examples of environmental social control policies used by various nations that are consistent with situational crime prevention arguments. We also note that research and theory in other disciplines suggest that crime is produced by larger structural economic forces, indicating that situational crime prevention alone is likely not sufficient to control environmental crime.

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