What Is Cybercrime?
Cybercrime is the use of computer technology to commit illicit activities. It is a global problem that has become increasingly common as the world becomes more digital and relies on computers and networks to conduct everyday tasks. This reliance has increased the vulnerability of individuals, businesses, and government entities to cyber threats. A successful cyber attack can result in theft of personal data or financial information, disruption of business operations, loss of revenue, and a damaged reputation.
Cyber criminals infiltrate systems to steal everything from private information to government secrets to company records and intellectual property. They can also interrupt critical infrastructure like the electric grid, transportation systems, and hospitals. This harms businesses and the economy and leads to higher prices and decreased efficiency in emergency response. It can also re-victimize people for years as stolen data circulates in dark corners of the Internet.
Criminal hacking involves exploiting weaknesses in software or hardware to gain unauthorized access to a computer or network. Cyber criminals may install malware (malicious software) on a victim’s device to manipulate, delete, or steal data. They can also flood a system or website with traffic to disrupt service. This is called a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack.
A successful cyber attack requires multiple skills and disciplines to respond and investigate, including cybersecurity, digital forensics, business continuity, and risk management. Students who focus on these areas of study learn to assess the risks to an organization, develop strategies for protecting sensitive data, and prepare for incident response. They also analyze how criminal attacks work, such as phishing emails and phone calls that seek to trick victims into giving up personal information or passwords.