CYBER CRIMES EMERGENCE

Cyber Crimes Emergence



Cyber Crimes Emergence

Introduction

A crime can be defined as “an act committed or omitted in violation of a law forbidding or commanding it and for which punishment is imposed upon conviction.” The internet or worldwide web is a collection of millions of computers that provide a network of electronic connections between the computers. There are millions of computers connected to the internet. The internet's evolution has helped usher in the information age of today. The web has made it extremely attractive to conduct commercial activities online. Internet crime is a crime committed on the internet, using the internet and by means of the internet. Online crime is a general term that embraces crimes such as credit card frauds, illegal downloading, identity theft, bank robbery etc. The invention of the software technology, computer, e-mail and internet has brought along with it modern crimes like sending threatening e-mail, defamatory e-mail, hacking e-mail and e-mail bombs. These kinds of internet or cyber crimes have become a serious threat today.

Literature Review

The impact and influence of the Internet over the past ten years has been immense. During that time, access to the Internet has grown enormously. In 1996, 3.4 million UK adults were online. By May 2001 10 million homes in the UK were connected to the Internet. A survey last year estimated that 34,104,175 people in the UK have Internet access. The rise of this networked society has expanded the range of information available to individuals and made many tasks easier to handle. The use of cyberspace for commercial trading represents a colossal opportunity to enhance and cheapen the flow of information, goods and services. However, Internet also has a dark side: it can be used to commit a cyber crime.

Cyber crime consists of specific crimes dealing with computers and networks (such as hacking) and the facilitation of traditional crime through the use of computers (e.g. online harassment, Internet fraud, hate crimes etc.). It can also be referred to as e-crime or hi-tech crime.

Computer Misuse

This category of cyber crime is reserved for conduct that falls within the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (now amended by the Police and Justice Act 2006) as follows:

Unauthorized access to computer material (basic hacking).

Unauthorized access to a computer system with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences (aggravated hacking).

Unauthorized modification of computer material (such as that caused by viruses).

Maximum sentences for these offences range from six months imprisonment and/or a £500 fine to ten years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

Hacking

The term hacking was originally used to describe an elaborate practical joke. Now the meaning has changed to become something associated with the activities of computer enthusiasts who pit their skills against the IT systems of governments and big corporations. The handiwork of some hackers, or "crackers" as they are known in the IT industry, has had disastrous results. The "love-bug" virus clogged at least 45 million computers worldwide and caused billions of dollars worth of damage. In October, 2000 Microsoft corporate network has been ...