Cybercrime
Cybercrime involves the illegal activity of hackers, scammers and other criminals that uses computers or the internet. Often cybercrimes are related to computer viruses, identity theft, denial of service attacks or downloading copyrighted material. According to 2022 statistics, there is hardly an internet user in the world that has not experienced some form of cyber crime.
To protect yourself, keep your software releases current and back up information regularly to reduce the impact of a data breach or ransomware attack. A strong password is also key to a secure online environment.
A cybercriminal’s goal is to use the computer system to steal your personal or confidential information and money. These hackers will often demand that you pay a ransom to get your files back. Another type of cybercrime involves hacking into a company’s systems and using the connection to steal confidential or sensitive information from employees, clients, vendors or customers.
Some cybercrimes include phishing emails and spear-phishing, which are crafted to look like legitimate messages sent from trusted sources such as the CEO or IT manager. Spear phishing targets senior executives, a more lucrative target due to their financial resources and level of knowledge of the company’s technological infrastructure.
Battling cyber threats requires collaboration. There are various international organizations that provide specialized training to investigators, prosecutors and judges who deal with cyber crimes. They include the FBI, Europol and Interpol, as well as national law enforcement agencies in countries around the globe.