Technology has revolutionized society. How technology is advancing more and more each day is truly a phenomenon. With the good, there also comes the bad. While we become more reliant on technology, the increase in computer or cybercrimes gets more pronounced. There is a great deal of sensitive information out there in cyberspace and that opens the door for criminal activity. Computer crimes are a hot button issue right now because of this very point. We rely on technology so much that the thought of cybercriminal activity strikes a nerve with many. Prosecutions of cyber crimes have quickly ramped up over the past few years.
What Are the Most Common Types of Computer Crimes?
A computer crime or cybercrime is a criminal offense that involves the use of a computer or computer network. It is a broad category of criminal offenses and includes a wide array of crimes. Some of the most common computer crimes include:
- Malicious hacking: Some hacking, referred to as “ethical hacking”, is legal. Ethical hacking is used by organizations and businesses for things like monitoring the level of their security. Malicious hacking, however, is a crime. Malicious hacking is the intentional and unauthorized accessing of another person’s network or device. The person being hacked may not even be aware that they are being hacked.
- Malicious Software: Also referred to as malware, malicious software may be something like a Trojan virus or spyware. Generally speaking, malicious software is software used to disrupt a network in order to access and steal sensitive data contained in the system that has been compromised.
- Theft: Many things can be stolen from a computer or computer network. A cybercriminal may look to steal copyrighted material such as music or movies. Additionally, identity theft is becoming a very common cybercrime. More and more people are switching to online banking and online shopping. They are putting out sensitive identifying and financial information out into cyberspace. It is all too common that an individual tries to access the sensitive and identifying information of another and then use that information to make purchases for themselves, applying for credit cards, and make other financial transactions in the name of another. It can have devastating financial consequences and ruin a person’s credit history.
- Cyberstalking and cyberbullying: Both of these are forms of online harassing. There is the sending of unwanted and abusive messages, gathering information about another person in order to threaten or harass them. In some cases, fake profiles are created to further inflict harm on victims.
- Phishing: This refers to a type of email fraud scheme. In this kind of scheme, a person sends out emails that look legitimate, but are used to gather personal, identifying, and financial information from the email recipients. The perpetrators of the scheme then use the information gathered for other criminal purposes such as identity theft.
Computer Crimes Defense Attorney
If you have been charged with a computer crime, you may feel like you have already been found guilty. The stigma that attaches to this kind of crime is immediate. Computer crime is such a hot button issue that everyone is extra sensitive to the possibility of a person perpetrating such a crime. Dickman Law Office will work to clear your name and clear you of the charges you face. We are on your side right from the start. Contact us today.
Posted in: Criminal Defense