What Is the Meaning of Cyber Crime?

Cyber crime is a newer term in the justice system that refers to crimes that can be committed with the use of a computer and the Internet. Knowing how cyber crime is committed can help you understand the steps you need to take to protect yourself online.

Significance

Cyber crimes may cause lasting effects for victims, especially if identification or personal financial information is involved. It can also be difficult to prove that a specific perpetrator has committed any type of cyber crime.

Considerations

Victims of cyber crimes are often the ones who provide the personal information needed to commit these crimes. If you are careful about what information you provide online, you can reduce your risk of being a victim of cyber crime.

Types

Cyber crime comes in many forms, but most of these crimes deal with stolen information. The most common types of cyber crime include identity theft, phishing scams and fraud.

Warning

Individuals are not the only victims of cyber crime. Businesses big and small can also be susceptible to this type of crime.

Prevention

You can avoid being a victim of cyber crime by limiting the amount of personal information you provide online, checking the address of the website to see if it is the correct address, and avoid responding to any unsolicited email with personal information.

References

• U.S. Department of Justice: Computer Crime and Intellectual Property
• An Introduction To Computer Crime and Internet Fraud