What is Cybercrime?
Cybercrime is an umbrella term for the myriad of crimes committed via a computer or a network. It encompasses myriad activities such as hacking, phishing and identity theft. It also includes illegal file-sharing of child pornography and intellectual property, stealing identities, and violations of privacy. However, it is important to note that a computer is not the only thing needed for criminal activity. Criminals were just as likely to commit fraud, traffic in illicit drugs, and violate privacy before computers became so widespread. It’s simply that new technologies give rise to new ways for criminals to carry out their illegal activities.
A lot of cyber attacks are opportunistic, with hackers spotting vulnerabilities in a system’s defences and exploiting them. It can be a simple matter of finding flaws in a website’s code, or using a vulnerability on a third party site to inject their own malicious software onto the target system. Criminals can also take advantage of data breaches by collecting personal information from many different sources and combining it to commit identity theft. For example, if they obtain a credit card number and name from one breach and purchase histories from another, they can use the combination to gain financial gains.
Keeping an eye on your bank statements is essential for spotting the signs of cyber crime quickly. It is also worth having a strong antivirus to protect your PC against malware. For businesses, a breach can result in lost revenue, loss of investor awareness, reduced credit ratings, heightened insurance premiums and legal suits from customers who have had their information stolen.