What exactly is cyber criminal activity? This is an understandable question. As frightening as it might sound, cyber crimes are not all that different from other types of criminal activities. They can also involve stealing or harming property, accessing private documents or identifying information, and fraud.
Cyber crimes fall under several classifications. Computer crimes are any crimes that happen online. Cyberstalking is one such crime. Cyberstalking involves sending unwanted messages via email, Instant Messenger, or instant message. Cyber stalking is not always about violence. It could involve any number of other crimes, including fraud or identity theft.
In order to understand what cyber criminals are, you have to know what cyber-criminals look like. They have typically used a computer to carry out their crimes. These cyber criminals send emails with attachments, which are typically malicious software programs such as viruses, spyware, Trojans, and worms. Once downloaded, these attachments can then be installed on your computer.
In addition to installing additional malware onto your computer, these “virus” or “worm” attachments can also be used to track your Internet surfing habits. All this means is that if you go to a website that is considered inappropriate, you will more than likely receive an attack. What is more alarming is that these attacks often occur when you are unaware that they have happened. These are known as “Browser Hijacking Attacks” and there are actually special books available that teach you how to protect yourself against them.
What kind of personal information does a cyber criminal need to successfully carry out their attacks?
Just about anything that can be typed on the keyboard can be targeted by these criminals. This includes social security numbers, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and any personal information (like name) that are stored on your computer. The data can be accessed by these cyber criminals to include your email address, social networking accounts, online shopping cart items, and any other details that would allow them to access your financial resources.
Most people do not realize that cyber criminals use hacking to commit crimes. This is where data that is considered private is hacked into and published online. Most commonly this happens in phishing scams where criminals lure you into revealing sensitive information through a link in an unsolicited email. Other common methods include phishing emails that appear to be from your bank, financial institution, or any other reputable company.
Increasing technology
The attacks conducted by cyber criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated. In order to commit one of these crimes, a criminal will usually develop several different ways to get their stolen information. Many attacks require stealing passwords and user names to gain access to the victim’s accounts. These accounts will then be used to make purchases online. Other methods may involve creating fraudulent documents and sending them to the victim through email, or using software programs to monitor all activities on the infected computer.
In order to protect against cyber threats, you should practice taking precautions when using your computer. Never click on links in emails that you are not expecting, and never download anything from a site that you do not recognize. If you have any suspicions about phishing or hacking attempts, talk to your Internet provider. They should be able to provide you with advice and options for stopping these new types of threats.
In the USA
In terms of national security, the United States is a strong leader in cyber security. Recently, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a cyber threat assessment saying that cyber crime had become a significant national security issue. The United States has been working diligently to improve its cyber security in order to deter cyber criminals from harming innocent citizens. Recently, there has been an increasing international cooperation between government officials to address this growing cyber crime problem.
The United States Department of Justice is a great example of how cyber criminals use technology to their advantage. They have developed a cyber crime unit known as Operation Global versus Cybercrime. This unit will work to apprehend cyber criminals and bring them to justice. In order to be prepared for cyber attacks, many companies have also been investing in comprehensive cyber security training for their employees. Companies have learned that there are several different types of cyber-attacks, and that some of them can be very sophisticated. Employees must be trained to deal with these different types of attacks, and must be trained in how to report the illegal activities of their coworkers to the proper authorities.
Each year, many new advances in technology are being made. As more industries are realizing the importance of information security, more people are finding themselves in the danger of becoming a cyber crime victim. In order to prevent cyber criminals from victimizing others, business owners have been requiring their employees to undergo cyber awareness and information security training. This training has shown to significantly reduce the number of cyber crimes that are committed against businesses and has also helped to lower the cost of these crimes. Increasing international cooperation to stop cyber crimes, has helped to reduce the cost of cyber crimes even further.
