Have you ever wondered why some hackers are terrorists but others are heroes? What separates cybercriminals from ethical hackers? Who are “hackers,” and what do they do on the Internet every day? And how does it affect your world? This article will answer these questions.
What Is Cybercrime?
Winston Churchill once said, “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” It’s a common idiom that applies to computer science as well. To truly understand cybercrime, we first have to understand its origin.
Hackers and cybercriminals were once the same. But as computer technology evolved, so did the types of criminals who use it. Cybercrime can be defined as any crime that utilizes a computing device for its execution. As hackers became more specialized, they were divided into two camps: ethical and unethical hackers. Ethical hackers are professionals who use their talents to protect data and companies. Cybercriminals are the ones who steal, defraud or commit other crimes with a computer. Hackers breaking into a company’s data without permission is a crime. Think of it like this: when someone jacks your car, they’re not considered an auto enthusiast; they’re just called plain old thieves.
Who Are “Hackers” and What Do They Do?
Hackers come in all different shapes and sizes. Some hackers are entrepreneurs, using their powers to create or evolve publicly accessible websites like Wikipedia or Facebook. Others take a more direct route and hold personal information for ransom, like in the case of the recent Ashley Madison breach. There is even an entire website dedicated to listing all of the Internet’s public data breaches.
But the most infamous type of hacker is known as a “cracker.” Crackers are hackers with malicious intent. They exploit other people’s weaknesses for their gain, typically profiting financially. Cracking originally referred to breaking into a computer system but has since been adapted to hacking for financial gain.
How is Cybercrime Commited?
So now that we’ve defined hackers and cybercriminals, the question remains: how is cybercrime committed? To answer this question, we must first understand something called “malware.” Malware is software or code explicitly designed to disrupt or damage a computer system or its data. It is often used to gain access into that system, but not always. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, malware attacks will cost businesses $2 trillion in damages by 2021 — and we’ve already seen an estimated 700 million new types of it in 2015 alone!
Today’s malware is written in different programming languages, but it has one primary purpose: to exploit vulnerabilities in programs or operating systems. Malware is hazardous when each instance of it is unique or specially crafted. Many malware variants are designed to look like legitimate software while implementing code that gives the author access to the infected machine. This lets cybercriminals steal data, conduct fraudulent transactions and distribute malware themselves. It is advisable to install ccpa compliance software to protect personal data.
Malware has many different forms, including viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. These different types of malware can be spread in several ways: by email attachments, text messages, and even on social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter. Even if you’re using the most secure computers in the world (and there is no such thing as a 100% secure computer), you’re not safe from malware. No one is.
Conclusion?
To combat cybercrime, we must first be aware of it and how it’s committed. We cannot protect ourselves from something if we don’t know what it looks like, where to find it or what dangers it poses. Everyone must understand what cybercrime is and how they can prevent it.
Milo Senalle
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