What is a cyber crime?
Posted: 19th May 2024 - Reading Time: 3 minutes
Cyber crime refers to any criminal activity that involves a computer, networked device, or network. These crimes are primarily carried out by cyber criminals to generate profit for the individuals behind the attacks.
Most cyber crimes target computers or devices such as printers and routers directly. Cyber criminals also use computers or networks to spread malware (software designed to damage or gain unauthorised access to computer systems), distribute illegal information, and share harmful content.
While cyber crime can be conducted by individuals or small groups, there has been a significant increase in attacks by highly organised criminal groups. These groups often include skilled software developers and other experts in relevant fields.
One of the major challenges in combating cybercrime is that attackers can operate from anywhere in the world, making it difficult to track and stop them.
Types of Cyber crime
There are many different types of cyber crime, and most are carried out with the expectation of making substantial amounts of money for the individuals behind the attacks.
For legal purposes, there are three broad categories of cyber crime:
Cyber-Dependent Crimes
These involve criminals using digital systems to attack digital targets. This includes:
- Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks: Overloading systems to make them unavailable to users.
- Malware Attacks: Deploying malicious software such as viruses, worms, ransomware, and trojans to disrupt systems or steal data.
- Hacking: Unauthorized access to computer systems to steal, alter, or destroy data.
The purpose of data theft is usually to commit further crimes, such as identity theft or financial fraud. Cyber-dependent crimes are entirely new and unique to the digital world, relying solely on computer technology.
Cyber-Enabled Crimes
These are traditional crimes that have been transformed by the use of the Internet. This includes:
- Fraud: Online scams, phishing schemes, and fraudulent websites to deceive individuals into providing personal information or money.
- Extortion: Using threats or ransomware to demand payment in exchange for not releasing stolen data or restoring access to encrypted files.
- Identity Theft: Stealing personal information to impersonate individuals for financial gain or other malicious purposes.
The Internet allows these crimes to be carried out on a much larger scale, reaching a global audience and exploiting the anonymity provided by the digital world.
Internet Use
The Internet facilitates traditional criminal activities by providing new methods for carrying them out. This includes:
- Drug Dealing: Using online marketplaces, including the dark web, to buy and sell illegal substances.
- People Smuggling and Human Trafficking: Coordinating and promoting these illegal activities through online platforms and social media.
- Illegal Trade: Trading stolen goods, counterfeit products, and illicit services through online channels.
The use of the Internet enables these crimes to be conducted more efficiently, often with greater anonymity, making it harder for law enforcement to track and stop the perpetrators.
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