Computer and cyber crime

COMPUTER AND CYBER CRIME

What is computer and cyber crime?
Computer and cyber crime is a criminal activity done using the computer or
the internet to perform illegal acts. This is a type of crime where the compter
or the internet is used to commit crimes. These crimes include theft,
sepreading viruses, hacking, pornography e.t.c. Over the past years, the
number of reported cases of computer and cyber crimes have increased. The
first case of computer and cyber crime was reported in 1820, where Joseph-
Marie Jacquard, a textile manufacturer who produced " the loom", a device
that allows repitition of a series of steps in the weaving of special fabrics. His
workers felt that their traditional employement was being threatened by the
loom, so they destroyed the loom to discourage Jaquard from using the loom.
There are different types of computer and cyber crimes but their main
purpose is to get into another computer and steal personal informations,
money e.t.c.
Today, we live in a cyber world where everything is computerized and the
internet has played a major role in building this computerized world. Although
information technology has helped you develop our world, it also seems to be
a threat to us through computer and computer and cyber crimes. With the
improvement of the internet, computer and cyber crimes have increased in
the past years, from just creating viruses and hacking to stealing money,
stealing informations e.t.c.
Computer and cyber crimes usually performed by software engineers,
hackers or persons who have a wide knowledge about the internet,
networking or softwares. Cyber criminals may have a well developed
knowledge about softwares and networking and still be under the age of 18. It
was published in the USATODAY newspaper that in year 2007, the teenage
kingpin of computer and cyber crimes was arrested by the police; he hacked
in to bank accounts, radio stations, F.B.I files and lots more. He stole money
from bank accounts, sent malware virus to 1.3 computers, crash big industry
computers and even gets paid by people to perfume such crimes. The total
estimated amount of damage caused by the teenager was $20 million. Due to
the increase in computer and cyber crimes, researchers expressed their
feelings in the journal Computers at Risk "The modern thief can steal more
with a computer than with a gun. Tomorrow's terrorist may be able to do more
damage with a keyboard than with a bomb"- National Research Council,
"Computers at Risk", 1991.
Computer and cyber crimes and computer crimes have increased over the
past few years due to the advancement of internet technology. It is sad to say
that computer and cyber crimes have increased over 45% since 2002.
Types of computer and computer and cyber crime
Ø Hacking
Ø Fraud
Ø Virus
Ø Pornography
Ø Spam
Ø Phishing
* HACKING:
This is the most popular type of computer and cyber crime. Hacking means,
accessing a computer or network without authorized permission by the
rightful owner or organization. The main purpose of hacking is to hijack,steal
useful or personal information from medical records to business plans e.t.c.,
vandalism, or spread of virus.Due to the recent increase in the number of
reported cases about hacking, special and non-profiting organizations have
been established to create awareness about computer and cyber crimes and
cyber securities, their main purpose is to reduce the rapid growth of hacking
in our society today E.g. National Anti-Hacking Group. For example, a
computer security consultant and author, Kevin David Mitnick is a world
famous hacker, he is known for hacking punchcard systems, hacking into
Digital Equipment Corporation and viewing VMS source codes, hacking into
Motorola, Nokia and Fujitsu Siemens and he was arrested for hacking into the
Pentagon.
* FRAUD:
This is one of the fastest growing crimes in the cyber world. Fraud means,
stealing money or maniplating another users computer through network to
steal money. Over the past years, fraud have had major effect on computer
users worldwide. Fraud may come in form of a mail, pop up or spam. Fraud is
just meant to decieve its victim into providing personal information. For
example, a user can receive a fake mail from another user asking he/she to
click to win millions or receive a mail asking for personal details. Once private
information is given to such people, they use the details to withdraw money
from such persons account or steal money from your credit card. According to
the report by
* VIRUS:
Another destructfull computer and cyber crime is sending of virus to
computers. It affects all files of a computer, hides in the computer and leaves
the computer dead. Their main purpose is to run as a program in a computer
and cause damage to the computer without the user noticing such damage.
This viruses can also be transmitteed from computer to computer through
removable disks. If a removable disk e.g. pen drive is ploughed into an
infected computer, the removable disk automatically becomes infected and if
that same removable disk is ploughed into another computer, the computer
will also be infected with the virus. There are many types of cyber and
computer viruses such as:
Ø Worm
Ø Trojan
Ø Malware
Ø Adware
Ø Spyware
Ø Botnet. E.t.c.
For example, CHIP recorded that in year 2000, the ILOVEYOU virus, ehich
was developed in Hong Kong affected computer systems all over the world
and its cost of repairs was $15 billion.
* PHISHING: Phishing is a e-mail fraud criminal activity of attempting to
acquire person informations from a person, informations such as usernames,
passwords, bank account number, credit card number e.t.c. Phishing is
usually done through mails, where a person will receive a mail from his/ her
bank or insurance company asking to provide their account number,
passwords, credit card number or address due to system upgrade or any
reason, and if such information is released, the bank account,credit card e.t.c
will be completely wiped out. Phishing can also be in the form of pop-ups on
the internet. For example, when some internet sites are opened, sometimes
we see a pop-up asking us to click and win an iphone, laptop or a trip. Some
of these pop-ups are fake. If a user clicks such pop-up, he/she will be asked
to answer a simple question and after answering the question correctly,
he/she will be asked to provide his bank details, address and phone number
for the prize to be delivered and if such person falls for the prank, he/she's
bank account, phone account, credit card account will we totally wiped out.
Many big organizations and websites today have been affected by phishing
such as AOL, Fcaebook, Yahoo, Myspace, Twitter, Gmail e.t.c. and after the
informations were collected they were used for identity theft and for sending
viruses to online users.
WAYS OF PREVENTING COMPUTER AND
INTERNET CRIMES
1. Creating strong passwords and keeping them safe
2. Inspecting all bank, insurance, website statements thoroughly.
3. Protecting personal informations
4. Turn on spam blockers, firewalls, antivirus e.t.c
5. Encrypt personal details and add a password.
1. CREATING STRONG PASSWORDS AND
KEEPING THEM SAFE:
Passwords are very important in keeping our files, informations and also
access to sites private. Creating a strong password involves the use of
numbers, alphabets and symbols e.g. cash_mere10142 . Also, avoid using
your real name, family name or any personal detail in creating a password
and change your passwords on a regularly.
2. INSPECT ALL BANK, INSURANCE, WEBSITE
STATEMENTS THOROUGHLY:
Always review any statement or request received by companies or websites
before filling in personal details. Compare it to other original statements
received and confirm that it is genuine before giving out details.
3. PROTECTING PERSONAL DETAILS:
Make sure you read through mails, letters or proposals before providing any
information. Do not reply, provide informations to spam mails. Always read
privacy statements on web sites and also computer programs.
4. TURN ON SPAM BLOCKERS, FIREWALLS,
ANTIVIRUS:
Remember to turn on firewall on your computer to reduce the possibility of
your computer being hacked or being infected by sites and turn on your
personal antivirus software to ensure full protection from spywares, adwares,
malwares, trojans e.t.c.
5. ENCRYPT PERSONAL DETAILS AND ADD A
PASSWORD:
Encryption of personal information makes it hard or impossible for it to be
hacked or phished. Encryption compreses the file and secures it from being
accessed or bing read by other users except you and also passwording the
encryption folder increases the level of protecction.