The Scary World of Internet
Today we will discuss about cybercrime a little more detail and see if there is any simple way to protect ourselves from cybercrime. Cybercrime refers to criminal activities that are carried out using computers and the internet. It encompasses a wide range of illegal actions, from hacking and data breaches to online fraud and identity theft. Here are some common types of cybercrime:
We often hear the term Hacking. Hacking is unauthorized access to computer systems or networks, often with the intent of stealing sensitive information, disrupting operations, or spreading malware.
Have you heard of Online Fraud? We often hear about someone winning an online lottery, and all you need to do is click a link, or share your information like name, phone address, bank details, etc. Some people also tell you that they will double your money within 24 hours. These are various types of fraudulent activities online, and are crime.
Although it sounds like ‘fishing’, it is not. Phishing is an act of tricking people into revealing their personal information, such as login credentials, credit card details, date of birth, PAN or AADHAAR, etc. Criminals use deceptive emails or websites or messages that trick us into revealing personal information. They may use this information for many reasons. One of them is Identity Theft.
Recently, someone called himself a DC and finally was caught because he is not a DC. This is an example of Identity Theft. Similarly, there are people who pose as someone else and commit fraud and crime, such as opening fraudulent bank accounts or applying for loan, getting mobile SIM in the victim's name, etc.
What if you come home one day and find it locked and there is note on the lock asking you to pay a hefty amount to open the lock? Similarly, Ransomware criminals use malicious software that encrypts a your data, and the attacker demands a ransom for the decryption key. It may happen with your email account, social media account, even your smartphone.
Ther are bullies everywhere. Cyberspace or Internet is no exception. Cyberbullying is harassment, threats, or intimidation of individuals or groups through online channels, often using social media. Some forms of cyberbullying are also known as trolling
Next cybercrime is little more technical and individuals are not the victims here. It is called Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks. This usually for websites. Criminals overwhelm a target server or network or website with a flood of traffic, causing it to become unavailable. Have you heard of Server Down?
One of the very common cybercrimes is Malware. Criminals use malicious software like viruses, worms, Trojans, and spyware designed to infect and compromise a computer, smartphone or network. They can take your picture, and listen to your conversations.
Most of the minor children have a smartphone nowadays, and in many cases the parents do not bother what the child is doing with it. This leads to the most heinous of cybercrime which is known as Online Child Exploitation. Predators target children because they are innocent and gullible. Child exploitation include distribution, possession, or creation of child pornography and the sexual exploitation of minors online.
Like hacking, there is Data Breaches. This is unauthorized access to and theft of sensitive data. Sensitive data may be national secret, may be personal information, may be information about family and friends. These data are sold in the black market at an exorbitant price. Some data breached are made public in order to warn us to be careful with our information, while most of these breached are kept under the carpet to save the victim from embarrassment.
Cybercrime poses significant risks to individuals, businesses, and governments, as it can result in financial losses, damage to reputation, and breaches of privacy. To protect yourself and your organization from cybercrime, it's essential to practice good cybersecurity measures, such as using strong passwords, keeping software and antivirus programs updated, and being cautious about sharing personal information online. If you feel that you are a victim of cybercrime, please report to the police immediately.