First online murder will happen by end of 2014?

The European policing agency warned that as cybercriminals exploit internet technology lure and target victims of ‘online murder’, governments are ill-prepared to combat the looming threat. The Independent reported , ‘In its assessment of the physical danger posed by online crime, Europol said it expected a rise in ‘injury and possible deaths’ caused by computer attacks on critical safety equipment.’

‘Police forensic techniques need to ‘adapt and grow’ to address the dangers posed by the so-called ‘Internet of Everything’ — a new era of technological interconnectedness in which everything from garage doors to hospital health systems will be linked and controlled through computer networks.’The concept is behind the likely development of smart homes, cars  but police warned that the failure to protect devices could see them open to being hacked to make money or to attack opponents.’ 

The Europol threat assessment published last week cited a report by US security firm IID that predicted the first murder via ‘hacked internet-connected device’ by the end of 2014.’ The Independent reported.