The Growing Threat of Cybercrime
During the last decade, data theft has dramatically increased. The threat of cyber attacks is becoming greater, and companies and investors are facing a wide variety of potential consequences.
Cybercrime is the criminal conduct involving electronic equipment connected to the internet. It includes a wide range of malicious activities such as fraud, cyberstalking, child pornography, and theft of intellectual property. These crimes can affect individuals in many countries.
The criminals behind cybercrime are highly organized. They trade in tech support, and they purchase malware online. They often operate out of overseas facilities.
Cyber attacks are devastating to people and businesses. They can lead to the loss of sensitive data and brand damage. Some ransomware attacks can also destroy computer systems permanently.
Cyber extortion is a demand by cybercriminals for money. They may threaten a DDoS attack to demand payment. These attacks overwhelm a system, making it difficult for legitimate users to access information.
The threat of cyber attacks has caused many Americans to fear their personal safety. In fact, the FBI is particularly concerned about ransomware hitting first responders. It is also expected that a major cyberattack on America’s power grid is imminent.
Cybercrime is often committed by individuals who have little or no technical knowledge. It is also an extension of existing criminal activity. Many of these criminals are state-sponsored groups.
Cybercrime has been growing in importance as computer becomes a central part of commerce and government. It is also one of the most lucrative criminal enterprises. It is estimated that cybercrime will inflict $6 trillion USD globally by 2021.