What is Cybercrime?

By Charlotte Raynor Piggush, published Sep 11, 2008
http://www.associatedcontent.com/

There has never been a set in stone definition of cybercrime. The easiest way to describe cybercrime that it is any illegal activity done through the internet or on the computer.The word cybercrime is usually limited to describing illegal activity in which the network or computer is a crucial part of the crime. However, this word additionally is used to include conventional crimes in which networks or computers are used to enable the illegal activity.

Cybercrime can take numerous profiles and can take place nearly anywhere or anytime just like conventional crime. Criminals committing cybercrime employ numerous techniques, depending on their knowledge and their target. This should not be unexpected since cybercrime, in any case, is simply "crime" with some sort of "computer" feature.

Some examples of cybercrime which the network or computer is a device of the illegal activity include spamming and copyright crimes, predominantly those assisted through peer-to-peer systems.Another example of cybercrime is when the network or computer is an object of illegal activity including unlawful admittance (for example, overpowering access controls), denial-of service assaults and malicious code.

One more example of cybercrime is when the network or computer is a place of illegal activity including stealing of service (in particular, telecom deception) and certain financial scams.Additionally some examples of conventional crimes made possible through the use of networks or computers include hacking, child pornography, identity theft, securities scams and online gambling. Another example of a conventional crime is cyber stalking or harassment which has found a new variety when done through computer networks.

Certain other offenses, including trade secret theft and manufacturing or economic espionage are on occasion believed to be cybercrimes when networks or computers are used.



Discussion Questions:

1. How serious is the problem of cybercrime compared to old-fashioned crime in your country?

• Cybercrime is a bigger problem than traditional crime.
• Cybercrime is just a big problem as traditional crime.
• Cybercrime is not a big problem in my country.

2. Computer viruses are made by hackers in order to destroy data on hard drives or make computer system stop working. Has your computer been infected by computer virus before?

3. What kind of punishment should be used against computer hackers who steal credit card numbers or break into computer systems?

4. What kind of punishment should be given to hackers who create computer viruses?

5. Is there any way that government and big businesses can protect their computer systems from hacker break-ins?

6. How do you feel about sending your information over the internet when making online purchases?

7. Will cybercrime ever be stopped or will it just keep getting worse and worse?

8. How do you feel about downloading songs, movies, computer software for free from free file-sharing websites? Do you consider it as a form of cybercrime too?