Software and Theory
As previously noted, there are emerging technologies which verge on being sci-fi and are ominous of a surveillance state. Still, there are other innovations which assist law enforcement and investigators in assessing threats. While these applications may not be the ultimate answer to finding terrorists or preventing an attack, they are a step in the right direction being based on sound theory and limiting public intrusiveness.
The problem of finding insider threats has only magnified with the advent of networked information systems. In Protecting Against Insider Threat, it was stated that “in cases where respondents could identify the perpetrator of an electronic crime, 32% were committed by insiders.” While it is no easy task to determine who a potential insider is, a if a third of the attacks could have been deterred or prevented then it is something worth researching and looking into.
Developed by a team of behavioral, technical and legal specialists, WarmTouch is “computer software designed to detect changes in the emotional state and attitudes of individuals from their online communications, indicative of the emotions and attitudes associated with disgruntlement and risk of dangerous behaviors.” While it is still in the testing phase, this program has one key component that should be highlighted. It uses algorithms to search through a lot of data – not unlike data mining algorithms. However these algorithms are based in theory, thus, giving it more validity and reducing the false positives so typical in data-mining. Proponents of data-mining should look to such an application as an example for what is needed to produce legitimate data-mining algorithms which could lead to greater acceptance of its use.