Cybercrime
Cybercrime involves the use of a computer or network to commit illegal activities. This includes stealing personal information, trafficking in child pornography and intellectual property, hacking into networks and computers to steal data, and violating privacy.
Profit is the primary motivation of most cybercriminals and hacker groups. Profit-driven cybercrimes include ransomware attacks, cyberstalking, extortion and cryptojacking (using computers to mine cryptocurrency). Cybercriminals also can infect devices with malware to directly damage systems or steal data. Other cybercrimes include cyber espionage and interfering with systems in order to interrupt business services (denial of service attacks).
Cyber criminal communities have global reach, making it easier for them to cover their tracks. In addition, cybercrime laws vary by country and it is harder to trace activities on the Internet than in real life.
Governments are working to address these limitations. For example, the United States has a national cybercrime task force and an online portal for reporting incidents. Other countries are also developing similar measures.
Cyber crimes are expensive for companies, with the direct costs of a breach such as fines and the indirect cost of lost customer confidence. Companies that lose confidential information can face lawsuits from victims, and may have difficulty raising capital in the future. They can also suffer damage to investor perception and a decrease in company value. Cyber crimes can also disrupt supply chains and lead to financial instability. They can also threaten the physical security of businesses and individuals.