In the decades that followed the enactment of the Homestead Act of 1862, more than 1.6 million U.S. citizens and intended citizens filed applications with the U.S. government to lay claim to 160 acres of land guaranteed to each applicant willing to settle, farm and improve the lands.

Settlers quickly encountered a major problem. The

The Council for Economic Advisors (CEA) issued a report this month, entitled “The Cost of Malicious Cyber Activity to the U.S. Economy,” which concludes that “malicious cyber activity cost the U.S. economy between $57 billion and $109 billion in 2016.”

The Executive Summary further depressingly concludes:

  • Malicious cyber activity directed at private and public entities