Cyber crime – Everyone thinks that only stealing someone’s personal data is a cyber crime. But in actual words we can define that ‘Cyber crime refers to the use of an electronic device (computer, laptop, etc.) to rob someone’s data or try to hurt them by using an electronic device.
Furthermore, it is an illegal activity that covers a range of issues from theft to using your system or IP address as a tool to commit crimes.
Types of Cyber Crime
Broadly speaking we can say that cyber crime is classified into four major types. These are financial, privacy, hacking and cyber terrorism.
Financial crimes They steal money from users or account holders. Similarly, they also steal the data of companies that can lead to financial crimes. Also, there is huge risk in transactions due to them.
Privacy crime involves stealing your private data that you do not want to share with the world. Moreover, due to this, people suffer a lot and some even commit suicide due to misuse of their data.
In hacking, they deliberately sabotage a website in order to harm or harm the public or the owner. In addition, they destroy or modify existing websites to reduce its value.
Modern day terrorism has progressed much further than it was 10-20 years ago.But threats to any person or property to the level of creating fear is also cyber terrorism.
Cyber Crime in India
People access it for various uses like shopping, movies, music, video games, transactions and e-commerce etc.
In this age of technology and easy access of internet, one can easily get it. Because of this rapid pace of growth over the past decade. In addition, the Internet has opened up a world of information that anyone can connect to.
Due to this, the crime rate especially the cyber crime rate has increased manifold. Apart from this, the rate of movement of data also increases manifold due to the high speed of the internet. Above all, due to all these issues, cyber security has become a major concern for the society.
Laws related to Cyber Crime
In order to prevent the spread of cyber crime and to protect the interest of the people, the government has enacted several laws related to cyber crime. Also, these laws act as protection against cyber crime. In addition, the government has also started cyber cells in police stations to combat the menace of cyber crime at the earliest.
Measures to Prevent Cyber Crime
Cyber crime is not something that we cannot deal with on our own. Similarly, with a little use of our common sense and logic, we can prevent cyber crime from happening.
To conclude, we can say that cyber crime is a dangerous crime against someone’s privacy or any content. Also, we can avoid cyber crime by following some basic logic and using our common sense. Above all, cyber crime is a violation of not only the law but also human rights.
Cybercrime is a dangerous attack, which can be faced by any company or individual. There are a lot of incidents where cyber attacks has caused humongous loss in economy,personal information to companies and individuals due to data hack. We live in a technology-driven age, and every information is now fed onto computers. Cybercrime involves attacking computers and digital devices. These cyber attacks can prove to be dangerous not only for the organization but also for the country. As of now, there are many digital attack cases in India and globally, which are pushing for more security measures. If they are not controlled in the initial phase, then these attacks are also affecting the economy of the country.
What is Cyber Crime?
Cybercrime or attack is defined as a digitally occurring and systematic criminal activity carried out by attackers. There are a ample amount of examples of cybercrime, including fraud, malware viruses, cyberstalking and others. Because of these, government agencies and companies are investing more on the maintenance and recruitment of cybercrime specialists.
Earlier cybercrime was only committed by individuals or small groups. However, now a highly complex cybercriminals network works on attacking systems for data collection. Three groups of cyber crime are below.
- Personal
- Property
- Government
Person
It is a form of cyberstalking, trafficking and grooming. Over the years, this type of cyber crime has been taken seriously by law enforcement agencies. It is now keeping an eye on every such attack on a person.
Property
Just like in the real world where criminals steal property, in the cyber world attackers steal data. Here, the attacker steals a person’s bank details and misuses the credit card for online purchases. By using malicious software, the attacker attacks the assets to disrupt the organization’s system.
Government
(cyber terrorism )this can be a panic as the attacker can get hold of essential documents related to government projects. An enemy nation or terrorist usually carries out such attacks. Apart from these, there is also an economic crime where the hacker steals the money of the user’s account holder. In addition, they steal company data and finances.
Hacking
Thus, the computer system of the individual is hacked to obtain personal information. Hacking is a punishable act in many countries including India. This is quite different from ethical hacking. In general hacking, various types of software are used illegally to enter the target person’s system. After this the hacker is able to keep an eye on every activity done by the person.
How to Protect yourself from Cybercrime
Anyone using the Internet should use some basic security measures. Here are 11 tips you can use to protect yourself from all kinds of cybercrime.
Use a fully integrated Internet security system
For example, Norton Security, Quick heal Antivirus, McAfee Antivirus, Kaspersky, etc. provides real-time protection against existing or emerging computer malware that includes ransomware and viruses, and helps protect your personal and financial information when connected to the Internet.
Use strong passwords
Do not repeat your passwords on different sites, and change your passwords frequently. Make them complex. That means using a combination of at least 15 letters, 3 numbers, and unique symbols. The password management app can help you keep passwords locked.
Keep your software updated
This is very important for your operating systems and online security software. Cybercriminal hackers often use known useful tools, or bugs, in your software to gain access to your system. Adjusting those exploits and errors can make you less likely to become a victim of cybercrime.
Manage your social media settings
Keep your personal information confidential. The cyber criminals can get your information about personal data for a few data points on social media, so the less you share it publicly. For example, if you are posting the name of your pet or disclosing your mother’s home name, you can disclose the answers to two common security questions.
Strengthen your home network
It is a good idea to start with a strong encryption password and a virtual private network. A VPN will encrypt all the traffic leaving your devices until they reach their destination. If cybercriminals are able to hijack your contact line, they will not catch anything other than encrypted data. It is a good idea to use a VPN whenever you have a public Wi-Fi network, whether you are in a library, cafe, hotel, or airport.
Talk to your children about online
You can teach your children about acceptable use of the Internet without turning off social media. Make sure they know about it can come to you if they encounter any form of cyber bullying, harassment, or cyberbullying.
Keep up to date with major security breaches
If you do any online trade with a person or have an online account on a website portal affected by major security breaches, find out what personal information the criminals have accessed and change your password immediately.
Take steps to protect yourself from identity theft
Identity theft occurs when someone improperly obtains personal data in a manner that involves fraud or deception, usually for the benefit of the economy. How? You may be tricked into providing personal information online, for example, or a thief may steal your email to access account information. That’s why it’s important to monitor your personal data. A VPN – short for virtual private network – can also help protect the data you send and receive online, especially if you access the Internet via public Wi-Fi.
Identity theft can happen online
It is wise to know how you can protect your identity even when you are traveling. There are many things you can do to help criminals avoid accessing your personal information on the street. This includes keeping your travel plans offline and using a VPN when accessing the Internet through your hotel’s Wi-Fi network.
Take care of children
Just as you would want to talk to your children about the internet, you would also want to help them protect themselves from identity theft. Impostors often target young children cause of their Social Security number and online credit past data often mentions a precise slate. You can help prevent identity theft by being careful when sharing your child’s personal information. It is also wise to know what to look for that could put your child’s identity in jeopardy.
Know the steps what to do if you become a victim
If you believe you have become a victim of cybercrime, you need to notify the local police and, in some cases, the Cyber Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation. This is important even if the crime seems small.
Your report may assist the authorities in their investigation or help prevent criminals from injuring other people in the future. If you think that cyber criminals have accessed your identity. Following are the steps you can take to begin the process of preparation for mediation.
• Contact companies and banks where you know a fraud has occurred.
• Set up fraudulent alerts and get your credit reports.
• Report identity theft to the CBI and RBI.