Technology is constantly evolving and improving, but so are the cybercriminals who come along with it. Cybercrime can be described as any illegal activity that involves a computer or network connected device.
Technology is constantly evolving and improving, but so are the cybercriminals who come along with it. Cybercrime can be described as any illegal activity that involves a computer or network connected device. Although there is a huge range of cybercrime activity that takes place, generally it can be divided into three categories.
- The computer is the target: This is where an individual tries to gain network access.
- The computer is used as a weapon: Often, this is some sort of attack, such as the launch of a denial of service attack.
- The computer is an accessory of the crime: For example, where the criminal uses a computer to store any data that has been obtained illegally.
Who commits cybercrimes?
Of course, those who commit these crimes vary greatly, making it hard to track them down. They could be committed by individuals or small groups. Some are even arranged by criminal organizations who even have the power to hack into large companies all over the world.
To protect yourself from cybercrime, it is essential that you take great care when sharing online information, and try to avoid suspicious “phishing” websites. Make sure that you have some anti-malware protection installed as well, as even a free solution can mean the difference between safety and compromised information. If you run a business, security awareness training for your employees should protect the assets of your organization.
Often, the victims of the crime will never find out the identity of the criminal, as they can be separated by thousands of miles. This is because these criminals are likely to be operating in countries with weak or non-existent cybercrime laws. If they get caught, the punishment will be small, if any at all. For more information on cyber security, please click on the image below.
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