What Is Cybercrime?
Cybercrime is a broad category of illegal activity that involves computers and internet-connected devices. Criminals perpetrate this type of crime to obtain money or other assets, disrupt infrastructure and steal information. It is an area of growing concern for governments and businesses around the world.
The most common types of cybercrime include:
Often, criminals commit these crimes with the help of other people and organizations. These groups are called gangs, or in more serious cases, organized crime syndicates. They use tools and techniques such as botnets, hacking, phishing, malware, and distributed denial of service attacks to carry out these crimes.
While these activities may seem similar, each cybercriminal has their own motives and goals. They also have different levels of expertise and capability to commit these crimes. For example, a criminal who is more adept at programming or hacking can create sophisticated malware or other software to gain access to systems and data.
When a person or company is the target of a cyberattack, they can suffer significant financial losses and damage their reputation. According to the Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report 2024, over half of companies that experienced a cyberattack in the previous year struggled to attract new customers and suffered from negative media coverage.
Understanding these threats is critical to protect yourself, your family, and your business. Never give out personal information or data over the phone or through email unless you are completely sure it is secure. For example, when receiving a call from your bank, always call them back on their official website to ensure you are speaking with the person you think you are.