Cybercrime Definition and Classification
The 21st century has been marked by a massive surge in internet-related crimes. The internet has enabled criminals to indulge in activities that were previously difficult for them to carry out based on physical constraints. These include ransomware attacks, hacking, identity theft and data breaches. The internet has also made it easier for criminals to evade detection and prosecution. These new types of crime have led to the formation of specialized units within the U.S government, such as the Cyber Crimes Center (C3) of the Homeland Security Investigations division.
Cybercrime has become one of the most dangerous threats to human existence and the rate at which these crimes are occurring is rising exponentially. The internet has allowed criminals to commit many different kinds of crimes, from extortion and blackmail to financial fraud and money laundering. In addition to monetary losses, these crimes can also have psychological and social impacts on victims.
As a result of the increasing prevalence and severity of cybercrime, there is an urgent need for a global consensus on the definition and classification of cybercrimes. This paper aims to explore and consolidate existing definitions, typologies and taxonomies found in academic and grey literature using a structured literature review methodology.
Results show that the two-factor categorization system – defining cybercrimes as either ‘cyber-dependent’ or ‘cyber-enabled’ – dominates the field. However, more complex systems such as the spectrum classification system proposed by Gordon and Ford are less popular. This suggests that further defining properties and a more holistic approach to cybercrime classification ought to be considered in future.