Cybercrime

What is cybercrime?

Cybercrime is any criminal activity that involves a computer, networked device or a network.

While most cybercrimes are carried out in order to generate profit for the cybercriminals, some cybercrimes are carried out against computers or devices directly to damage or disable them. Others use computers or networks to spread malware, illegal information, images or other materials. Some cybercrimes do both — i.e., target computers to infect them with a computer virus, which is then spread to other machines and, sometimes, entire networks.

A primary effect of cybercrime is financial. Cybercrime can include many different types of profit-driven criminal activity, including ransomware attacks, email and internet fraud, and identity fraud, as well as attempts to steal financial account, credit card or other payment card information.

Defining cybercrime

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) divides cybercrime into three categories:

1. crimes in which the computing device is the target — for example, to gain network access;
2. crimes in which the computer is used as a weapon — for example, to launch a denial-of-service (DoS) attack; and
3. crimes in which the computer is used as an accessory to a crime — for example, using a computer to store illegally obtained data.

Types of cybercrime

• Cyberextortion: A crime involving an attack or threat of an attack coupled with a demand for money to stop the attack. One form of cyberextortion is the ransomware attack. Here, the attacker gains access to an organization’s systems and encrypts its documents and files — anything of potential value — making the data inaccessible until a ransom is paid. Usually, this is in some form of cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin.
• Cryptojacking: An attack that uses scripts to mine cryptocurrencies within browsers without the user’s consent. Cryptojacking attacks may involve loading cryptocurrency mining software to the victim’s system. However, many attacks depend on JavaScript code that does in-browser mining if the user’s browser has a tab or window open on the malicious site. No malware needs to be installed as loading the affected page executes the in-browser mining code.
• Identity t heft: An attack that occurs when an individual accesses a computer to glean a user’s personal information, which they then use to steal that person’s identity or access their valuable accounts, such as banking and credit cards. Cybercriminals buy and sell identity information on darknet markets, offering financial accounts, as well as other types of accounts, like video streaming services, webmail, video and audio streaming, online auctions and more. Personal health information is another frequent target for identity thieves.
• Credit card fraud: An attack that occurs when hackers infiltrate retailers’ systems to get the credit card and/or banking information of their customers. Stolen payment cards can be bought and sold in bulk on darknet markets, where hacking groups that have stolen mass quantities of credit cards profit by selling to lower-level cybercriminals who profit through credit card fraud against individual accounts.
• Cyberespionage: A crime involving a cybercriminal who hacks into systems or networks to gain access to confidential information held by a government or other organization. Attacks may be motivated by profit or by ideology. Cyberespionage activities can include every type of cyberattack to gather, modify or destroy data, as well as using network-connected devices, like webcams or closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras, to spy on a targeted individual or groups and monitoring communications, including emails, text messages and instant messages.
• Software piracy: An attack that involves the unlawful copying, distribution and use of software programs with the intention of commercial or personal use. Trademark violations, copyright infringements and patent violations are often associated with this type of cybercrime.
• Exit scam: The dark web, not surprisingly, has given rise to the digital version of an old crime known as the exit scam. In today’s form, dark web administrators divert virtual currency held in marketplace escrow accounts to their own accounts — essentially, criminals stealing from other criminals.