What is cyber crime?

In simple words cyber crime can be defined as criminal activities carried out by the means of computer or the Internet.

 In more technical words we can say that Cybercrime a crime in which a computer is the object of the crime (hacking, phishing, spamming) or is used as a tool to commit an offence. Cybercriminals may use computer technology to access personal information, business trade secrets, or use the Internet for exploitative or malicious purposes. Criminals can also use computers for communication and document or data storage. Criminals who perform these illegal activities are often referred to as hackers.Cybercrime may also be referred to as computer crime.

There are three cyber crimes widely practised are:-

Hacking

Phishing

1.Hacking: Hacking means to illegally access other people's computer systems in order to destroy, disrupt or carry out something illegal.Hacking is usually carried out remotely, i.e. someone outside a company wants to try to break into the computer system.

2.Phishing: The fraudulent practise of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, online, this process is called phishing.

3.Spamming: The process of sending the same message indiscriminately to a large numbers of Internet users at  a same time is called spamming.

1. 
   

Scamming

The cases of cyber crime have increased rapidly and it has led to loss of data and privates details to various individuals, the government and various companies.

This graph shows the increase of cyber crime

How does cyber crime affect us?

  All types of cyber crimes involve both the computer and the person behind it as victims; it just depends on which of the two is the main target. Cyber crime could include anything as simple as downloading illegal music files to stealing millions of dollars from online bank accounts. Cyber crime could also include non-monetary offences, such as creating and distributing small or large programs written by programmers called viruses on other computers or posting confidential business information on the Internet. An important form of cyber crime is identity theft, in which criminals use the Internet to steal personal information from other users. Various types of social networking sites are used for this purpose to find the identity of interested peoples. There are two ways this is done - phishing and harming, both methods lure users to fake websites, where they are asked to enter personal information. This includes login information, such as user names and passwords, phone numbers, addresses, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and other information criminals can use to "steal" another person's identity. 

History of cyber crime

The first recorded cyber crime took place in the year 1820 which is not surprising considering the fact that the abacus, which is thought to be the earliest form of a computer, has been around since 3500 B.C. in India, Japan and China. The era of modern computers, however, began with the analytical engine of Charles Babbage. In 1820, Joseph-Marie Jacquard, a textile manufacturer in France, produced the loom. This device allowed the repetition of a series of steps in the weaving of special fabrics. This resulted in a fear amongst Jacquard's employees that their traditional employment and livelihood were being threatened. They committed acts of sabotage to discourage Jacquard from further use of the new technology. This was the first recorded cyber crime. 

How to prevent cyber crime?

1. Use Strong Passwords
   Use different user ID / password combinations for different accounts and avoid writing them down. Make the passwords more complicated by combining letters, numbers, special characters (minimum 10 characters in total) and change them on a regular basis.
2. Secure your computer
   
   
   1. Activate your firewall
      Firewalls are the first line of cyber defence; they block connections to unknown or bogus sites and will keep out some types of viruses and hackers.
   2. Use anti-virus/malware software
      Prevent viruses from infecting your computer by installing and regularly updating anti-virus software.
   3. Block spyware attacks
      Prevent spyware from infiltrating your computer by installing and updating anti-spyware software.
3. Be Social-Media safe
   Make sure your social networking profiles (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, MSN, etc.) are set to private. Check your security settings. Be careful what information you post online.  Once it is on the Internet, it is there forever!
4. Secure your Mobile Devices
   Be aware that your mobile device is vulnerable to viruses and hackers.  Download applications from trusted sources.


5. Protect your Data 
   Use encryption for your most sensitive files such as tax returns or financial records, make regular back-ups of all your important data, and store it in another location.
6. Secure your wireless network
   Wi-Fi (wireless) networks at home are vulnerable to intrusion if they are not properly secured. Review and modify default settings. Public Wi-Fi, a.k.a. “Hot Spots”, are also vulnerable. Avoid conducting financial or corporate transactions on these networks.
7. Protect your e-identity
   Be cautious when giving out personal information such as your name, address, phone number or financial information on the Internet. Make sure that websites are secure (e.g. when making online purchases) or that you’ve enabled privacy settings (e.g. when accessing/using social networking sites).
8. Avoid being scammed
   Always think before you click on a link or file of unknown origin. Don’t feel pressured by any emails. Check the source of the message. When in doubt, verify the source. Never reply to emails that ask you to verify your information or confirm your user ID or password.  
9. Call the right person for help
   Don’t panic! If you are a victim, if you encounter illegal Internet content (e.g. child exploitation) or if you suspect a computer crime, identity theft or a commercial scam, report this to your local police. If you need help with maintenance or software installation on your computer, consult with your service provider or a certified computer technician.
10. Cyber crime cells                                                                                                                          the Government to prevent the security of the people of India has always tried its level best so in the field of cyber crime also it has started a cyber crime cell so as to prevent cyber crime. So in case of any cyber crime issue please report to the cybercrime cell immediately.  
    

THANK YOU