Cybercrime
Cybercrime is a broad term used to describe a wide range of criminal activities carried out using computers. These include hacking, which involves exposing and exploring vulnerabilities in computer systems, and exploiting those weaknesses to steal information, or commit fraud. It also includes illegally distributing content such as pornography and child exploitation, which is often shared on anonymous networks known as the dark web.
Unlike traditional crime, cybercrime is global and multi-jurisdictional in nature, and is typically committed by organized criminal groups. It can affect individuals, businesses, and government bodies. The impact can be financially significant, such as lost revenue from a company website being out of commission, or it can be personally damaging as private information is exposed or stolen. It can even be physically destructive, such as when a steel plant was hit by ransomware in 2015.
A significant challenge for law enforcement agencies is that there is a cybercrime component to virtually every type of investigation HSI conducts: narcotics, weapons, and human trafficking; counterfeit identification documents; sexual exploitation of children; theft or sale of intellectual property and export-controlled data; and money laundering. Additionally, there is a risk of “mission creep” where laws and investigatory powers introduced to address one form of cybercrime are applied in other areas, without proper justification or legal authority.
Individuals can help reduce the risk of cybercrime by staying informed, being vigilant, and protecting their personal information. Taking basic precautions such as avoiding untrusted websites and only downloading legitimate apps and programs is an excellent starting point. Regularly checking and updating your antivirus software can also be beneficial.