Cybercrime
The term cybercrime refers to criminal activities that take place using a computer or electronic device connected to the internet. Cybercrime can be committed by individuals or large worldwide criminal communities. Profit-driven crimes, like stealing and selling identities or gaining access to financial accounts are common, but so is cyberespionage and other attacks designed to steal confidential information for political or corporate gain.
Traditionally, criminals stole personal information by digging through people’s trash or intercepting mail, but the Internet has made it much easier to gather and sell that information, hack into computers and devices, or infect them with malware (malicious software). Cybercrime can be done at any time, from any location on earth, and criminals are often able to hide their tracks more easily than individuals who walk on real ground. However, just as individuals leave clues that are easy to follow, cybercriminals also leave digital traces that can lead police in the right direction.
Cybercrime can include anything from identity theft to malware to sex crimes. But the most common type of cyber crime is phishing – sending a message that requests a person to reveal their financial details over email or the phone. This type of crime is not new but has grown in popularity thanks to the widespread use of social media and a lack of security measures in email programs.
Another form of cyber crime is piracy – downloading music, movies or games without paying for them. But it is important to remember that this is illegal and carries heavy legal consequences for the offender.