Cybercrime
Cybercrime is an umbrella term for a variety of illegal activities that occur through a computer. These include stealing identity information, trafficking in child pornography and intellectual property, and violating privacy laws.
Unlike physical crime, cyber crimes can be committed anywhere in the world, and they’re not restricted by geographic boundaries. They can target a single individual, company, or government for ill intent.
Most attacks begin when a cyber criminal targets a user’s computer, phone or other device. They may use fake emails or phishing scams to trick their victim into sharing personal information and giving them malware that can harm their devices.
A cyber criminal may also hack into a business’s computers and hold its data hostage until they receive a ransom payment. This can happen with malware called ransomware or with distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that shut down an organization’s network.
Cybercriminals can be organized into global criminal communities and share strategies and tools to launch coordinated cyberattacks. These criminal communities often operate in the underground and are highly specialized.
In some countries, cybercrime is a felony crime. The punishment depends on the severity of the crime and how much damage was done.
It’s not always easy to track down cybercriminals because they often hide their identities online and are able to operate from anywhere in the world. They also have an underground marketplace where they can buy and sell stolen information and identities.
Cybercrime is a growing concern that requires new legislation to address it. The Internet is constantly evolving and causing new opportunities for cybercriminals to steal people’s identities, financial records, and intellectual property.