What is meant by the term Cybercrime?

When computer devices and the internet is used to perform any criminal activity is known as cybercrime.

Bifurcating the term Cybercrime: -

Cyber-means computer

Crime-means an illegal activity or a criminal offence.

A single person or a group of persons can commit cyber-crime. Cybercrime is of many types and is done for many purposes. Anyone can be trapped in cyber-crime these days easily whether it’s, a government organisation or private, a common man or a rich man. It is usually done for abnormal loss to someone and abnormal gain to another. Intending monetary harm, physical harm or it could be done to demean someone’s respect or to cause someone mental trauma. Every year billions of USD loss is caused because of cybercrime.

There are many types of cybercrime some of them are stated below.

Types of Cybercrime: -

1.     Money laundering: when a person gains proceeds which are gained illegally by him/her but seems legal is called money laundering. These illegally gained proceeds are also called as ‘dirty money’ and money which appears to be legal is called ‘clean money’. It can be said that it is a conversion of illegitimate money into legitimate money.

2.     Child pornography: use of images or videos of children for sexual stimulation is child pornography. It is one of the most heinous crime committed in today’s world.

3.     Hacking: when someone explores ways to get unauthorized access to someone else’s data in a computer or a system is called hacking. It is an illegal offence of breaching someone’s computer’s security for some personal gain.

4.     Cyber extorsion: threatening someone and demanding money to reinstate the system after hacking someone’s personal information from email account or server, etc. is called as cyber extorsion.

5.     Cyber terrorism: when a person who has an aim to invade security system, for his social or political aim by hacking or intimidating government and its security by using a computer network is called cyber terrorism.

What is meant by the term Cyber Security?

Cyber security is a process or practice of protection of, network or computer system from malicious activities, theft of data, damage to hardware and software of your computer devices.

Bifurcation of the term cyber security: -

Cyber-means computer

Security-means freedom from harm

A technique to protect computers or networks or personal data, etc. from malicious activities like unauthorized access, is known as cyber security. It is a potential activity which helps in protecting information and other communication systems from modification or misuse or theft. All sorts of data whether be it private organisation or public, school or college, personal need or high security need. Everyone needs protection from any type of cyber harm. In some scenarios there is a need of high-level security because even a small amount of negligence can lead to huge damage at country level. Such high-level security is necessary for government defence systems, banks and development organization etc.

Some safety tips to be safe from cybercrimes:

  • Don’t open unfamiliar websites or mails from unknown person to avoid malware.
  • Use anti-virus software for protection from thefts.
  • Don’t use unsecure Wi-Fi networks.
  • Use strong passwords
  • Keep changing your passwords timely.

Some do’s and don’ts to keep yourself safe from cybercrime in today’s time of pandemic as well as in future: (these are the preventive measures advised by government)

  • Protect yourself and beware of spoofed information from entities posing as government or reputed organisation using reference of Covid-19.
  • Be alert, cyber criminals may lure customers through attractive offers with reference to Covid-19, such as miracle cures, herbal remedies, vaccinations, faster testing etc.
  • Delete unrequired files or data from your computer device. It prevents unauthorized access to such data by others.
  • Merely deleting sensitive material is not sufficient, as it does not actually remove the data from your device. ‘File shredder software’ should be used to delete sensitive files on computers.
  • Consider using the Media Access Control, or "MAC," address filter in your wireless router. Every electronic device that can connect to a Wi-Fi network has a unique ID called the "physical address" or "MAC" address.
  • To prevent unauthorized access to your device, consider activating your wireless router's MAC address filter to allow your devices only.
  • Never allow browser to store your username/password, especially if you use a shared computer device. Also make it a habit of clearing history from the browser after each use session to protect your privacy.
  • Secure all your wireless access points with a strong password. Hackers usually scan for open access points and may misuse it to carry out unwanted activities for which log records may make you liable for such misuse.
  • If you are victim of cyber stalking; consult your parents, friends or relatives and file complaint against the cyber stalker with National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal/ Police. Also save all communications with the stalker, as evidence.
  • Do not trust online friends unless you know & can trust them in real life.
  • Cyber criminals often create fake social media profile to befriend potential victims for obtaining their confidential or personal data or gain trust to cause harm in due course. Be careful of online friend requests you accept.
  • Be careful while accepting friend request from strangers on social media. It could be a trap to cause harm later.
  • It is advisable to ensure that your personal information, photos and videos if posted on social media, are accessible only to your trusted ones. Select “privacy settings” on social media accordingly.
  • Sharing your sensitive personal details such as address, phone number, Aadhaar number, photo, date of birth etc. on social media makes it easier for a stalker to misuse such details to harass you. It is advisable not to post such details on social media.
  • Be cautious on tiny or shortened URLs. Don’t click on it as it may take you to a malware infected website.
  • If you receive email purportedly from a foreign lottery service or sweepstakes; offer of money from unknown person; or requests to transfer funds for a share of the money, it is likely to be a false offer to cheat. Do not respond to such emails. It is better to delete such emails.
  • Use ‘non-administrator account’ privileges for login to the computer and avoid accessing with ‘administrator’ privileges for day-to-day usage of computers.

About the Author: This Law Notes is prepared by Ms. Urvi Yadav, law student at Maharishi University of Information Technology, Noida and was an intern at MyLawman. She can be reached at urviyadav29@gmail.com. 

MyLawman is now on Telegram (t.me/mylawman) Follow us for regular legal updates. Follow us on Google News, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter or join our whats app group .You can also subscribe for our Newsletter for Email Updates.

 

 For More Law Notes on Cyber Law, Click Here