What Is Cybercrime and How Can It Be Prevented?
As the world increasingly relies on computers, there are more opportunities for cybercriminals to tamper with systems and steal data. And with the growing number of connected devices (IoT), criminals can now gain unauthorized access to many types of systems, including automobiles, medical equipment and household appliances.
While there are many different kinds of cybercrimes, most involve some form of hacking, tampering with or altering data, computer viruses or malware and other online threats. There are also transaction-based crimes such as fraud, money laundering and counterfeiting that take advantage of the relative anonymity offered by the Internet. Then there are cyber-enabled crimes such as trafficking in child pornography, software piracy, cryptocurrency mining and more.
Before the Internet, criminals would dig through people’s trash or intercept their mail to obtain their personal information. Now, with the ability to steal passwords and other information from victims’ computers, they can do much more. Individuals and small groups may commit this kind of crime, but large organized criminal communities have also entered the fray by treating cybercrime as a business and creating global crime networks.
With the increased use of the Internet comes an increasing need for professionals who can design safeguards to prevent cyberattacks. A degree or career in law enforcement, technology or a related field coupled with knowledge of cybercrime can provide the right foundation for such a professional endeavor.