Cybercrime leaves cybercops in the virtual dust

"The problem is that there aren't enough well-trained investigators, prosecutors and judges to use it effectively," he said.

In the courts, where penalties are traditionally imposed based on damages, the extent of damage caused by cybercrime is hard to assess, and it's tough to get victims involved. Individuals often don't realize what's happened, and businesses -- breach disclosure laws notwithstanding -- are generally reluctant to go to court.....

"The law is irrelevant to most cyberhackers – they can operate out of anywhere," said Mary Kirwan, a former cybercrime prosecutor in Canada. "The reality for law enforcement is that if you want them to act as speedily and effectively as the international cybercrime community, you need to give them the tools. If the hackers share all their information, and businesses and governments share none of their information, you can imagine which does better."

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