"Take a Byte Out of Crime"
Take a “byte” out of crime!
“A simple definition of cyber-crime would be unlawful acts wherein the computer is either a tool or a target or both.”1
Although there are many activities conducted when utilizing a computer, it is the user’s intent that may determine if it is a crime. The three categories are:
Cyber Crimes against persons.
Cyber Crimes against Business and Non-business Organizations.
Cyber Crimes targeting the government.
CYBER-CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS
Identity Theft comes to mind when thinking about cyber or computer crimes. This crime includes hacking into your personal on-line accounts with the criminal intent to accrue financial gain via bank accounts and credit cards, as well as impersonation to open and max out new credit accounts in order to purchase everything from jewelry to travel to homes to cars. One such case is...are you kidding? That’s why I have Life-Lock.
Cyber-Bullying still languishes in many states, unable to stop the harassment that has ended tragically with the death of the victim. Posting content on social-networking sites like Facebook that is defamatory or has the intent to bully, harass, and/or harm the recipient is on the rise and crosses any and all jurisdictions. The case of Megan Meirer should prompt us all to demand national laws that provide both criminal and civil relief to the victim and the victim’s family. A rival’s mother impersonated an attractive youth to first flatter then demeans Megan to the point of despair and hopelessness. Megan is dead. Just because it wasn’t on the legal books as a crime does not mean it wasn’t criminal. Remember, intent matters.
CYBER-CRIMES AGAINST BUSINESS & NON-BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
Hackers who access a business or non-business organizations’ networks find files that contain personal data of employees or volunteers, proprietary and/or trade secrets, and financial data that allows for theft, fraud, and extortion. One such exploit involved the student “ Daniel Beckwit,
“A simple definition of cyber-crime would be unlawful acts wherein the computer is either a tool or a target or both.”1
Although there are many activities conducted when utilizing a computer, it is the user’s intent that may determine if it is a crime. The three categories are:
Cyber Crimes against persons.
Cyber Crimes against Business and Non-business Organizations.
Cyber Crimes targeting the government.
CYBER-CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS
Identity Theft comes to mind when thinking about cyber or computer crimes. This crime includes hacking into your personal on-line accounts with the criminal intent to accrue financial gain via bank accounts and credit cards, as well as impersonation to open and max out new credit accounts in order to purchase everything from jewelry to travel to homes to cars. One such case is...are you kidding? That’s why I have Life-Lock.
Cyber-Bullying still languishes in many states, unable to stop the harassment that has ended tragically with the death of the victim. Posting content on social-networking sites like Facebook that is defamatory or has the intent to bully, harass, and/or harm the recipient is on the rise and crosses any and all jurisdictions. The case of Megan Meirer should prompt us all to demand national laws that provide both criminal and civil relief to the victim and the victim’s family. A rival’s mother impersonated an attractive youth to first flatter then demeans Megan to the point of despair and hopelessness. Megan is dead. Just because it wasn’t on the legal books as a crime does not mean it wasn’t criminal. Remember, intent matters.
CYBER-CRIMES AGAINST BUSINESS & NON-BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
Hackers who access a business or non-business organizations’ networks find files that contain personal data of employees or volunteers, proprietary and/or trade secrets, and financial data that allows for theft, fraud, and extortion. One such exploit involved the student “ Daniel Beckwit,