Cybercrime
Cybercrime involves illegal activities carried out using computers, networks or other digital infrastructure. From hacking into financial institutions, to sex- and drug trafficking and digital piracy, these offenses have profound effects on individual users, small businesses and global corporations and governments. As a crime that transcends physical boundaries, cyber criminals take advantage of the relative anonymity offered by the Internet.
Criminal activity that is perpetrated over the Internet and can be characterized as cyber crime includes everything from the most basic attacks like spam, malware and denial-of-service attack to more sophisticated crimes such as vishing and ransomware. It can also include crimes involving online identity theft or cyberstalking. Increasingly, cyber attackers are using technology to breach corporate defenses and gain access to sensitive information. For example, attackers are employing AI-assisted attacks such as voice cloning and deepfake phishing to trick employees into sharing credentials or other valuable information. Additionally, they are targeting supply chains to bypass direct defenses and penetrate deeper into organizations.
Cyber crime is a significant threat to individuals and organizations worldwide, with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reporting a staggering $1.4 trillion in losses globally in 2023 alone. The societal impact goes well beyond the wallet, with cyberattacks disrupting critical services such as power and transportation systems.
HSI’s team of experts is working to track and investigate these crimes, while also working to develop solutions that can improve security. Through world-class training and outreach to law enforcement partners, Congress, industry, academia and the public, HSI raises awareness of existing threats and teaches communities how to prevent them.