Introduction
As the world has become more reliant on computers, the need for proper contracting in computer science to prevent fraud has risen. Different types of computer fraud include phishing, malware, identity theft, social engineering, insider threats, skimming, and fake anti-virus alerts (Hughes et al. 149). Computer fraud can occur in the contracting process of computer science organizations, resulting in massive losses.
Therefore, a need has arisen for extensive research on computer fraud and how it can be mitigated, contracting and best practices for businesses, and the impacts of computer fraud when contracting. This paper will look at the effects of computer fraud when contracting in computer science and the importance of ethics when contracting. Since contracting is crucial for the computer science field, businesses should ensure that it is conducted ethically and free from computer science fraud by understanding and implementing cybersecurity measures.
Computer Fraud
Definitions and Types of Computer Fraud
Computer fraud refers to using illegal and unethical means that may harm others to meet particular selfish needs. In the past, computer fraud cases have resulted in mass losses for individuals, governments, and private businesses. As previously mentioned, people who commit computer fraud use different methods to circumvent the existing cybersecurity measures. These criminals could use phishing, sending targeted links, messages, emails, and pop-ups to deceive computer users into disclosing their private information, including passwords and bank and personal details.
Hackers use sophisticated tools and methods, such as public Wi-Fi systems, to access a user’s system and steal crucial information (A/P Sinnathamby Sehgar and Zukarnain 6). Cybercriminals also commit credit card fraud, insider fraud, and malware attacks, which negatively affect the targeted institutions and individuals.
Computer Fraud in Contracting
This fraud could occur in various forms, such as billing fraud, where the contractor gives false invoices that were not initially agreed upon. Another common fraud is scope creep, where contractors project higher outcomes for a computer science project than can be achieved. Contractors could also sub-contract computer science work without obtaining the client’s consent (Choudhari et al. 1).
Other common types of computer fraud in contracting include false advertising for computer science projects and data theft. Computer fraud activities in computer science contracting could result in delays, poor financial outcomes, and project failure. This, in turn, would result in adverse consequences for business organizations, such as bankruptcy or severe legal ramifications.
Methods for Detecting and Preventing Computer Fraud in Business Organizations
All businesses need a skilled computer science team and department to detect and prevent computer fraud. The team would ensure that the organization has strict access and authentication measures to prevent hackers from accessing critical information and data. A well-financed and skilled cybersecurity department would also ensure it regularly reviews and analyzes logs to detect unusual behaviors (Junger et al. 2). Computer fraud in business organizations could be minimized by subjecting the systems to regular audits, ensuring that the organization’s policies, procedures, and controls are well followed.
Computer fraud in business organizations could also be detected and prevented by ensuring that all the employees in the organization are educated and trained on how to recognize and prevent actions that would result in attacks. Additionally, employees should be encouraged to whistle-blow whenever they are confronted with an issue related to computer fraud. Implementing threat detection software that not only informs the organization of attacks but also guides workers to avoid risky websites (A/P Sinnathamby Sehgar and Zukarnain 8) would support a knowledgeable workforce. Moreover, the organization should be careful of the contractors it makes deals with and conduct a background check on them. By conducting background checks, adapting the necessary technologies to detect and prevent fraud, and having a well-trained workforce on the issues, businesses may decrease the chances of being subjected to computer fraud.
Contracting
Definitions and Types of Contracting
Contracting refers to the process by which people or more people decide to formally work together, where one party provides goods or services to another in exchange for a specific agreed-upon consideration. In the field of computer science, contracting could take many forms, including one organization manufacturing software products on behalf of another and an organization offering IT support for another (Qureshi).
One type of contracting is a fixed-price contract, where the client pays a particular sum and expects the contractor to complete the project within the agreed time. There is the time and material contract, where the clients pay the contractor for both their time and materials and the cost plus contract, where the payments are expected for any additional materials. Other types of contracting in computer science include performance-based contracts, where payments are based on the degree of output, and service level agreements, where payments are based on previously agreed metrics.
Importance, Issues, and Challenges in Contracting in Computer Science
In computer science, contracting is essential as it provides clear guidelines on the parties’ responsibilities and expectations. A business deal entered into under a proper contract is more likely to run smoothly since budgets, timeframes, and guidelines are usually well-defined. Additionally, contracting helps minimize misunderstandings and disputes between the client and the contractor. Substantial evidence shows that computer science projects entered without proper contracts could have intellectual rights problems.
However, contracting in the computer science field is not always straightforward (Qureshi). First, the constantly changing nature of the computer science field makes it difficult to implement policies and procedures to handle the ever-changing landscape. Second, contracting in the field of computer science requires a high level of expertise, which makes it hard to find qualified experts to draft the contracts.
Methods for Overcoming Contracting Challenges
Several best practices could help subcontractors and clients overcome the problems mentioned above. First, clear and precise project outcomes should be outlined and understood by all parties involved. Setting goals and objectives would ensure that the two parties have the same expectations from the project.
Secondly, business organizations should select skilled and experienced contractors who can complete the agreements in the contract at the right time and meet the expected standards (Hughes 47). Thirdly, establishing clear project deadlines, the prices to be paid, and the terms to which they should be paid could reduce misunderstandings. Moreover, businesses need to be careful about intellectual property rights and ensure that mistakes that could allow the contractor to gain control of the project are minimized.
The Intersection of Computer Fraud and Contracting
Impacts of Computer Fraud on Contracting
Fraudulent computer activities such as hacking, phishing, and malware attacks have numerous impacts on contracting. These attacks often create mistrust between the client and the contractor. Attacked systems are often valuable, and these fraud events create significant financial losses for the client and the contractor (Junger 4). Moreover, some organizations hold key information about resources owned by the public, and the contracting parties may end up being involved in legal contempt due to the attacks. Moreover, fraudulent attacks during the contracting process may result in increased scrutiny and oversight in future deals between the two organizations.
Importance of Ethical Considerations in Contracting Computer Science Projects
In computer science, ethical considerations must be observed to ensure that business organizations maintain a good image and avoid legal ramifications when contracting. The contracting parties should ensure that there is no conflict of interest, maintain confidentiality while conducting their work, and observe intellectual property rights when contracting (Markgraf). Both parties have to be aware of what is expected of them and what they should expect from the other party ethically. In doing so, they could ensure they conduct their work by acceptably providing computer solutions.
Legal Ramifications of Computer Fraud in Contracting
Computer fraud has differing degrees of legal ramifications in different jurisdictions. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act addresses computer-related offenses, including hacking and unauthorized access, which impact computer contracting processes. Organizations must consider the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act since failure would result in civil liabilities, fines, and even imprisonment (Hughes et al. 149). Computer contracting is also guided by the Electronic Communications and Privacy Act (ECPA), which protects both parties from fraudulent computer activities such as fraud and hacking. These legal consequences put the two contracting parties in a position where they must follow the set contracting laws.
Case Studies of Computer Fraud in Contracting within the Computer Science Field
Several case studies prove fraud problems when contracting in computer science. One notable case happened in 2013 when hackers accessed millions of users’ information from a third-party contractor and used it to meet selfish needs. Another involved the Diginotar software company, which went bankrupt after a contractor accessed its records and used the information to issue fraudulent digital certificates (Hughes et al. 38). There are many other related cases where a contracting party used fraudulent means to achieve selfish goals thus making it important for organizations to understand the need to ensure that all the contractors it deals with are ethical and not capable of committing fraud.
Conclusion
Since contracting is essential to the field of computer science, companies should ensure that it is done ethically and free from computer science fraud by comprehending and implementing cybersecurity measures. As computer use continues to rise, computer fraud is becoming more prevalent, and companies must enact legislation to prevent computer fraud. This research has investigated the impact of computer fraud on contracting in the field of computer science. The definitions and categories of computer fraud demonstrate how thoroughly researched and well-understood the subject is.
The extent of computer contracting and its value to a company have also been thoroughly examined. According to the study’s findings, computer fraud is a major risk in the computer science contracting sector, necessitating more research on the subject. Studies must be conducted frequently because the field of computer science is constantly evolving and could aid in the development of regulations that guard against fraud in computer companies.
Works Cited
A/P Sinnathamby Sehgar, Sopna, and Zuriati Ahmad Zukarnain. “Online Identity Theft, Security Issues, and Reputational Damage.” 2021. Preprints.org.
Choudhari, Sudeep, et al. “Sub-Contractor Life Cycle Management in Enterprise System Using Blockchain Technology.” 2021 6th International Conference for Convergence in Technology (I2CT), 2021.
Hughes, Jeffrey, et al. Classified as a Service (CLaaS). MIT Lincoln LaboratoryBoston University, 2019. Web.
Junger, Marianne, et al. “Fraud against Businesses Both Online and Offline: Crime Scripts, Business Characteristics, Efforts, and Benefits.” Crime Science, vol. 9, no. 1, 2020, pp 1-15.
Markgraf, Bert. “Business Contracts & Ethics.” Chron.com, 2013, Web.
Qureshi, Zia. “Technology and the Future of Growth: Challenges of Change.” Brookings, Web.