What Is Cybercrime?
Cybercrime is a criminal activity carried out by individuals or organisations using information and communication technology (ICT). It encompasses crimes such as cyberstalking, fraud, identity theft, money laundering, scams, cyberbullying and cyberterrorism.
There are different types of cybercrime – some of them easy to spot and others that are harder to detect. They can be based on specific victims or on specific aims, such as stalking, bullying or money-laundering.
One of the most common forms of cybercrime is malware – viruses that are installed on your computer or mobile device, and which then steal data or block access to your system. This is a very serious problem, and it affects people all over the world.
Another common form of cybercrime is the theft of intellectual property and secret company information. This can be extremely expensive and can even impact a business’s ability to conduct its operations.
Theft of private information by government agencies is also a significant concern. It can be used to spy on journalists, human rights activists and political leaders, for example.
It can also be used to steal financial details from companies, which can lead to losses of a substantial amount of money. It can also result in psychological damage and feelings of shame and guilt.
The global economic impact of cybercrime is huge, and it costs governments billions of dollars each year. However, it is unevenly spread, with some firms and consumers losing a lot of money while others have only very little to lose.