I saw a cover from a PC-oriented magazine from the early 90's, and I had to laugh. The cover showed 3 highway speed limit signs. One read 8MHz, the next read 10MHz and the third read 12Mhz. The caption said "What Price Speed?" The implication was that computer speeds were "skyrocketing", but there was a question as to whether the cost was justified.
It was funny because seeing that article makes me realize how far technology has come in a relatively short time. To have told someone 20 years ago that one day processors would be running about 3000 times fatster than they were then would have drawn strange looks and pitying smiles. But here we are.
Of course it's wonderful to have the speed and the capabilities, but there is a serious downside; the many malicious uses of technology. We must admit that technology has grown and changed faster than our ability (or willingness) to anticipate and deal with the dangers presented. Just a listing of a few things wrought by technology bear this out...

-Because of the power of photo editing, photographs are no longer admissible as evidence in felony trials.

-Almost any "official" document can be forged, with exception of those requiring special paper or ink.

-It is still too easy for malefactors to get enough information to "be" you on the internet.

-The ratio of time and money spent protecting your computer, it's data and your personal information to time and money spent actually making productive use of it has done nothing but increase.

-If you develop software, unless you are either very smart or very diligent, your program can be "cracked" within days of it's release.

-Perverted persons can now enjoy their favorite perversion in relative privacy, which in turn makes victims all the more exploitable.

-Cybersex??? ('nuff said about that!)

The ramifications of these things have caused disruptions and upheavals in so many areas of life that almost no one can honestly claim to have been untouched. Yet, on we march, improving the ability of thieves to steal, the ability of libelous persons to successfully assassinate the character of otherwise honorable people, the ability of criminals to circumvent any scrutiny. Even before we find the most effective way to deal with an issue, there is already another technological advance waiting to be pressed into service that will give that very issue even more power to do more damage, not to mention negating whatever solution might have existed.
I'm not going to be convinced that the companies that write antivirus software, for example, as knowledgeable as they claim to be, can still, after all these years, be unable to take a proactive approach to fighting viruses. After all, they ought to be just as aware of the potential exploits as the virus writers. This is why, by the way, I never pay for virus software; these companies are like pest control companies, in that they have a vested interest in NOT really solving your problem. Fifty bucks, EVERY YEAR for them to sit back and see what happens and then respond? I can get that for free.

I'm not saying we need to slow down on tech development, but we sure need to open our eyes wider, and before leaping into the next big thing, try to anticipate what problems we might be making room for and apply some of that genius to getting on top of the problem, BEFORE it happens. What if this had been done before viruses, spam, spyware and other knucklehead-ware got a foothold...