types of cyber crime essay

Cyber Crime Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on cyber crime.

Cyber Crime Essay – Everybody thinks that only stealing someone’s private data is Cyber Crime. But in defining terms we can say that ‘Cyber Crime refers to the use of an electronic device (computer, laptop, etc.) for stealing someone’s data or trying to harm them using a computer.

Besides, it is an illegal activity that involves a series of issues ranging from theft to using your system or IP address as a tool for committing a crime.

Types of Cyber Crime

Speaking in a broadway we can say that Cyber Crime are categorized into four major types. These are Financial, Privacy, Hacking, and Cyber Terrorism.

The financial crime they steal the money of user or account holders. Likewise, they also stole data of companies which can lead to financial crimes. Also, transactions are heavily risked because of them. Every year hackers stole lakhs and crores of rupees of businessmen and government.

Privacy crime includes stealing your private data which you do not want to share with the world. Moreover, due to it, the people suffer a lot and some even commit suicide because of their data’s misuse.

In, hacking they intentional deface a website to cause damage or loss to the public or owner. Apart from that, they destroy or make changes in the existing websites to diminish its value.

Modern-day terrorism has grown way beyond what it was 10-20 years ago. But cyber terrorism is not just related to terrorists or terrorist organizations. But to threat some person or property to the level of creating fear is also Cyber Terrorism.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Cyber Crime in India

Web world or cyberspace is a massive community of millions and billions of users and websites. Also, people access it for different uses like shopping, movies, music, video games, transactions, and e-commerce, etc.

In this Age of Technology and easy access to the internet, anyone can easily reach it. Because of this fast pace growth from the previous decade. Besides, the internet has opened a world of information on which anyone can connect.

Due to, this the rate of crime especially the rate of Cyber Crime has increased much fold. Moreover, the rate of circulation of data is also increased much fold due to the higher speed of internet. Above all, due to all these issues, the Cybersecurity has become a major concern for society.

Laws related to Cyber Crimes

To stop the spread of Cyber Crime and to safeguard the interest of people the government has made several laws related to Cyber Crimes. Also, these laws serve as protection against Cyber Crime. Apart from that, the government has also introduced cyber cells in police stations to counter the problem of Cyber Crime as fast as they can.

Ways of stopping Cyber Crime

Cyber Crime is not something which we cannot deal with our self. Likewise, with little use of our common sense and logic, we can stop Cyber Crimes from happening.

To conclude, we can say that Cyber Crime is a dangerous offense to someone’s privacy or any material. Also, we can avoid Cyber Crime by following some basic logical things and using our common sense. Above all, Cyber Crime is a violation of not only law but of human rights too.

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [{ “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What is the main cause of Cyber Crime?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “The greed for quick money and the desire to get famous quickly are the two main reasons of Cyber Crime. Also, most of the targets of Cyber Crime banks, businessman, financial firms, etc.” } }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What is the punishment of Cyber Crime in India?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”:”If the person is found guilty then there are several punishments based on the level of crime. A simple crime can cost you a fine while a bigger crime can lead you to jail.”} }] }

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• School Education /

✍️Essay on Cybercrime: Free Samples in 100, 200, 300 Words

• Updated on  
• Nov 2, 2023

The 21st century is a digital age, where any and every task is done on the internet. All thanks to the developments in technology which have been the main factor to ease human life on earth and maybe on other plants in future. But with the benefits of technology, there are several harmful effects, one of them which has recently gained popularity; Cyber Crime. 

Cybercrime has emerged as pervasive and evolved as one of the most dangerous threats to humans. There are several users on the internet who indulge in illegal and criminal activities, using computers and networks. To guide you through this hot debate topic, below we have discussed essays on cybercrime.

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Cybercrime in 100 Words
• 2 Essay on Cybercrime in 200 Words
• 3 Essay on Cybercrime in 300 Words

Also Read: Essay on Student Life

Essay on Cybercrime in 100 Words

Cybercrime involves illegal activities like hacking, ransomware, cyberbullying, online fraud, etc. People who are involved in cybercrime or any similar activities are called hackers, scammers or fraudsters. Cybercrime leads to financial loss for individuals who have fallen victim to one. Cybercrime often invades a person’s privacy by stealing their personal details, including sensitive data, photos, and communication records, which can be used for blackmailing or any malicious purpose.

There are several governmental and non-government organizations which are working 

To tackle cybercrime by raising awareness among the masses, cyber security training, implementing robust security protocols, and enacting comprehensive cybercrime laws.

Essay on Cybercrime in 200 Words

Cybercrime is a criminal activity done online using a computer, network and internet. With the increasing use of the internet and mobile phones, the number of criminal activities has also gained pace.  These criminal-minded people steal the personal details of a person, which leads to financial losses and damages the reputation of the victims. Various scams and fraudulent schemes are offered on the internet like online auctions, advance fees, or any investment scam, which are all aimed at deceiving individuals into parting with their money.

Cybercrime is not limited to financial losses or reputational damage, a more discrete term has emerged; cyberbullying.  In cyberbullying, a person is harassed, humiliated, or threatened online. This can have severe psychological and emotional consequences. Ethical hackers or white hat hackers can help organizations identify vulnerabilities in their systems before malicious hackers exploit them. 

Cybercrime doesn’t have any boundaries and is an international issue and international cooperation is crucial for tracking and prosecuting cybercriminals who operate across borders. To combat cybercrime effectively, a multi-faceted approach is required, involving education, technology, legislation, and international cooperation. As technology continues to advance, our efforts to combat cybercrime must keep pace to protect our increasingly interconnected world.

Also Read – Essay on Winter Season

Essay on Cybercrime in 300 Words

Economists have termed cybercrime as ‘ A Hidden Threat to the Digital World.’ Modern humans are relying on the internet for their day-to-day activities and every macro and micro activity. In this sense, the term cybercrime comes to the front. Cybercrime refers to criminal activities conducted through the use of computers, networks, and the Internet. 

Cybercrime consists of various malicious activities like hacking, phishing, ransomware attacks, identity theft, online fraud, and cyberbullying. Hackers, fraudsters, scammers, criminals, and even state-sponsored actors exploit vulnerabilities in digital systems to steal sensitive information, disrupt operations, and cause financial and emotional harm to victims.

The consequences of cybercrime are far-reaching. Financial losses run into 10 digits annually, affecting individuals and organizations alike. Personal privacy is invaded as cybercriminals steal sensitive data, photos, and communication records. In cases of cyberbullying and harassment, victims suffer reputational damages, psychological distress, and emotional trauma, particularly in cases of cyberbullying and harassment.

It’s necessary to look for a multifaceted approach to deal with cybercrime, some of which are.

• Raising public awareness through campaigns where people are informed about the risks of cybercrime and educate them on best practices for online safety.
• Individuals and organizations should implement robust security protocols, regularly update software, and use multi-factor authentication to protect their digital assets.
• Governments should enact and enforce cybercrime laws, providing law enforcement agencies with the resources and expertise needed to prosecute cybercriminals effectively.
• Looking at the global nature of cybercrime, international collaboration is vital. Countries should work together to share threat intelligence and cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of cybercriminals.
• Ethical hackers can help organizations identify and rectify vulnerabilities in their systems before malicious actors exploit them.

Tackling cybercrime requires proactive measures, including education, strong cybersecurity practices, legislation, international cooperation, and the active involvement of ethical hackers.

Related Articles

Cybercrime is an illegal and unethical activity which is done by hackers and fraudsters to gain financial or any other benefits for themselves.

To tackle cybercrime, several measures can be taken. Some of these measures are education and public awareness, research and innovation, ethical hacking, etc.

To write an essay on cybercrime, you need to give details on how it works and the level of danger it poses to humans. Cybercrime consists of various malicious activities like hacking, phishing, ransomware attacks, identity theft, online fraud, and cyberbullying. Hackers, fraudsters, scammers, criminals, and even state-sponsored actors exploit vulnerabilities in digital systems to steal sensitive information, disrupt operations, and cause financial and emotional harm to victims.

For more information about such informative articles, visit our essay writing page and make sure to follow Leverage Edu .

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today.

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

116 CyberCrime Topics & Essay Samples

If you are writing a cybercrime essay, our team prepared this article just for you. Here, you will find 115 unique topics for any type of paper.

Essay on Cyber Crime

Cyber crime is the most discussed issue of the 21st century. The technology sector world wide is witnessing  a boom in the consumer of smartphones and the internet which is raising concerns with regard to the privacy and security of the users. Owing to this reason, it is highly essential for all the users to know about cyber crime  & security.  As a result, thi topic has become the most favorite topic of the examiner and can often be seen asked in the exams.  In this view, students must have information on cyber crime and stay prepared to tackle such topics in the essay question in the English paper.

Introduction

Cybercrime is a dangerous attack a company or an individual may face. There are many cases where the cyber attack has brought massive loss to the company and individuals due to the data hack. We live in a technology-driven era, and every piece of information is now fed on computers. Cybercrime involves an attack on computers and digital devices. These cyber-attacks can prove hazardous not just for the organization, but also for the nation. To date, there are many digital attack cases in India and global, pushing for more security measures. These attacks are also affecting the economy of the country if not controlled in the initial stage.

What is Cybercrime?

Cybercrime or attack is defined as the systematic criminal activity occurring digitally

and done by attackers. There are many examples of cybercrime, including fraud,

malware viruses, cyberstalking and others. Due to these, government agencies and

companies are investing more in the maintenance and hiring of cybercrime experts. 

Earlier, cybercrime was committed only by individuals or by small groups. However, now a highly complex cybercriminals network work on attacking the system for data

collection.

Three groups of cybercrimes-

This is the form of cyberstalking, trafficking, and grooming. Over the years, this

This type of cybercrime has been taken seriously by law enforcement agencies. It is

now keeping a track over every such attack on an individual.

Similar to the real world where criminals steal the property, in the cyber world,

attackers steal data. Here, the attacker steals a person's bank details and

misuse the credit card for online purchase. By using malicious software, the

attacker attacks the property to disrupt the system of the organization.

These types of crimes are denoted as cyber terrorism. This can be a terror because

the attacker can get hold of essential documents related to government

projects. An enemy nation or terrorist usually makes such attacks. There are

many cases globally where a terrorist hacks government data.

Apart from these, there is a financial crime where the hacker steals the money of the

user account holder. Moreover, they steal company data and finance.

In this type, the computer system of the person is hacked to get personal

information. In many countries, including India, hacking is a punishable act.

It is quite different from ethical hacking. In normal hacking, illegal use

different types of software to enter the system of the target person. Hacker is

then able to monitor every activity done by the person.

This Cybercrime is about violating copyright and downloading music or movies. In

India, many movies before their releases are leaked on the movie download

sites. In other words , theft is also called privacy, which can bring a huge

loss to the organization.

Cyber Stalking

It is online harassment by an individual or a group of people. Normally, these

stalkers target an individual and harass online. There are many cases of

cyberstalking in India, resulting in the target person ending up taking

Malicious Software

These are computer-based cybercrimes where virus-based software is installed in the

target people or organization computers. This is to damage the system and

corrupt the data of the target.

Laws Related to Cybercrime

In India, there are many cybercrime laws enacted to stop this threat. Be it for

the individual or the organization; these laws help to either bring down the

number of cases or eliminate these digital crimes.

Apart from these laws, as an individual, you also need to take steps to stop these

crimes. Like, not providing your login details, installing trust anti-virus

software and keeping your online profile private can help to act against such

Cybercrime is a significant threat that can bring huge loss to the individual and the

organization. It is essential to follow basic online rules to ensure the safety

of self and the organization.

Benefits of Cyber Crime Essay in English provided by Vedantu

The essay on cybercrime provided by Vedantu is prepared by highly qualified teachers which makes it a reliable source of information. This information could be utilized for a variety of reasons. Being a reliable piece of information the essay will benefit everyone curious to know about the topic.

Following are the highlights of its benefits:

Reliable information 

Adaptive to the context 

Precise language

Fulfills the requirements of the students for english exam questions 

Comprehensive and analytical. The  article digs in the depth of the issue and analyzes it through a 360 degree perspective.

The essay could also be used by the students for preparing themselves for the essay question in the English paper. This essay is an excellent guide to understand what the examiner is looking for in the exam. Moreover, the topic of cybercrime is quite a recurrent one in the exam. So the students use this essay to deal with the same topic.

The Essay on Cyber Crime is an excellent guide on averting any possibilities of a cyber attack. On today's date, one is mostly on the internet for a variety of reasons. It becomes essential for one to know important tips that can keep one safe from cyberbullies, thieves, or blackmailers. It is also important for one to understand the right course of actions to be taken in an eventuality of such an incident.

Download the cybercrime essay for students in English on the Vedantu website.

FAQs on Cyber Crime Essay

1. How Does Cybercrime Work?

Group of people or an individual commits most of these cyber-crimes. These criminals use a systematic process to hack and commit these acts. These criminal communities share strategies and tools to launch attacks. Some of the cybercrime techniques

Fast Flux - In this method, the hacker moves data quickly among computers in a botnet, making it challenging to find the right source.

Social Engineering - This method includes using lies and manipulation to trick people into revealing their personal information.

Skimmers - This involves installing a skimming tool in an ATM and stealing the information. You may find such skimming devices in ATMs.

There are some digital criminals targeting organizations to steal personal information.

2. How Cybercrime Affects Society?

Cybercrime can hugely affect society. In 2018, the US faced a loss of $600 billion. As consumers are increasingly allowing technologies to get into their lives, cyber attackers are getting better access. Some of the essential information available are-

Personal health data, sleep schedules, and geo-locations Shopping history, account information, and passive conversations noticed voice-controlled devices, Private conversations on social media accounts.

Your entire life is now available on social media, making it vulnerable to hack or cyber-attack. Attackers use different techniques including- installing malware, virus, phishing, cyberstalking, etc. These can certainly bring loss of lives and data for individuals and organizations. For society, this is a significant loss in the long run.  One needs to be very careful when presenting himself socially.

3. How to stay secure in times of cybercrime?

Cybercrime is a real threat posing to society. It is the 21st-century version of theft and blackmailing. There are certain ways one should adopt to prevent any possibilities of cybercrime. Do not disclose the banking details to random people or fill the CVV of your debit or credit cards on an unknown and unverified website. Keep your passwords always discrete. The camera of the laptop should always be covered.

4. Where can I get a cybercrime essay?

One can find a good quality cyber crime essay on Vedantu's website. The essay which is prepared by the expert teachers describes everything that one needs to know about cybercrime. It is the one-stop solution for all your requirements on the topic. Their essay is available in PDF format on the website and could be downloaded on any device. One downloaded essay could be used in offline mode too. If one finds it feasible, the printout of the PDF could also be taken out.

Essay on Cyber Crime

Students are often asked to write an essay on Cyber Crime in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Cyber Crime

Introduction to cyber crime.

Cybercrime refers to illegal activities conducted through the internet. It’s a fast-growing area of crime, with more criminals exploiting the speed, convenience, and anonymity of the internet.

Types of Cyber Crime

There are many types of cybercrimes. These include hacking, where unauthorized access is gained to a computer system, and identity theft, where personal information is stolen and used fraudulently.

Preventing Cyber Crime

Preventing cybercrime is crucial. This can be achieved by using strong, unique passwords, keeping software and systems updated, and being cautious of suspicious emails or websites.

Cybercrime is a significant issue in today’s digital age. Awareness and proper precautions can help in preventing these crimes.

Also check:

• 10 Lines on Cyber Crime
• Paragraph on Cyber Crime
• Speech on Cyber Crime

250 Words Essay on Cyber Crime

Introduction.

Cybercrime, an umbrella term encompassing a variety of offenses committed using digital technology, poses a significant threat to the modern world. As our reliance on technology increases, so does the potential for misuse, leading to a surge in cybercrimes.

The Nature of Cybercrime

Cybercrimes can range from financial theft, identity theft, cyberstalking, to more complex forms like cyber terrorism and cyber warfare. They exploit the anonymity provided by the internet, making them difficult to trace, investigate, and prosecute.

Impact of Cybercrime

The impact of cybercrime extends beyond financial loss. It can cause significant psychological harm to victims, damage reputations, and even pose threats to national security. In a digital world, the effects of cybercrime are far-reaching and potentially devastating.

Preventing Cybercrime

Preventing cybercrime requires a multi-faceted approach. It involves not only technological solutions but also legal and educational measures. A robust cybersecurity infrastructure, stringent laws, and increased public awareness are crucial to mitigating the risk of cybercrime.

In conclusion, as technology advances, so too does the sophistication of cybercrimes. Combating this growing threat requires a comprehensive approach that combines technology, legislation, and education. The fight against cybercrime is a shared responsibility, requiring collective effort from individuals, organizations, and governments alike.

500 Words Essay on Cyber Crime

In the digital age, our reliance on technology has given rise to a new form of criminal activity known as cyber crime. This term encapsulates any illegal activity that utilizes a computer as its primary means of commission. Cyber crime has become a critical concern due to its widespread impact, affecting individuals, businesses, and even nations.

The Different Forms of Cyber Crime

Cyber crime manifests in various forms, each carrying its unique implications. Identity theft, for instance, involves unauthorized access and use of personal information for fraudulent purposes. Another common type, cyberstalking, uses digital tools to harass or threaten individuals. More complex forms of cyber crime include cyberterrorism and cyber warfare, which target national security and infrastructure.

The Impact of Cyber Crime

The impact of cyber crime is far-reaching and multifaceted. On an individual level, victims may face financial loss, emotional distress, and privacy invasion. For businesses, the implications can be devastating, leading to significant financial losses, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust. On a national level, cyber crime can threaten a country’s security, economy, and infrastructure.

Preventing cyber crime requires a multi-pronged approach. On a personal level, individuals must take precautions such as using strong passwords, regularly updating software, and being cautious of suspicious emails or links. Businesses, on the other hand, need robust cybersecurity measures, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular employee training. Governments must also play their part, enacting robust cyber crime laws and cooperating internationally to apprehend and prosecute cyber criminals.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

The legal landscape surrounding cyber crime is complex and continually evolving. Jurisdictional issues often arise, given the borderless nature of the internet. Ethically, the debate around privacy and security is pertinent. While law enforcement agencies advocate for backdoors into encrypted systems to combat cyber crime, this raises concerns about potential misuse and invasion of privacy.

The Future of Cyber Crime

As technology advances, so does the sophistication of cyber crimes. Future threats could involve artificial intelligence and machine learning, making detection and prevention even more challenging. Therefore, continuous research, development of advanced cybersecurity measures, and international cooperation are imperative to stay a step ahead of cyber criminals.

In conclusion, cyber crime poses a significant threat in the digital age, affecting all aspects of society. A comprehensive understanding of its forms, impacts, prevention strategies, and the associated legal and ethical considerations is crucial for individuals, businesses, and governments alike. As we move further into the digital era, the fight against cyber crime will undoubtedly remain a pressing issue.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Christmas Celebration in School
• Essay on How I Spent My Christmas Vacation
• Essay on My Aim of Life to Become a Bank Manager

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Stop inbound email threats and drive security awareness.

Authenticate email and identify risky suppliers.

Protect identities in hybrid enterprises from account takeover.

Defend data and manage insider threat.

Leverage proactive expertise, operational continuity and deeper insights from our skilled experts.

Human-centric cybersecurity packages from Proofpoint. Complete protection against today's risks—tailored to your organization's unique needs. Maximize security. Optimize value.

Protect your people from email and cloud threats with an intelligent and holistic approach.

Help your employees identify, resist and report attacks before the damage is done.

Prevent data loss via negligent, compromised and malicious insiders by correlating content, behavior and threats.

Manage risk and data retention needs with a modern compliance and archiving solution.

Keep your people and their cloud apps secure by eliminating threats, avoiding data loss and mitigating compliance risk.

Learn about this growing threat and stop attacks by securing today’s top ransomware vector: email.

Implement the very best security and compliance solution for your Microsoft 365 collaboration suite.

Secure access to corporate resources and ensure business continuity for your remote workers.

Protect your email deliverability with DMARC.

Today’s cyber attacks target people. Learn about our unique people-centric approach to protection.

Become a channel partner. Deliver Proofpoint solutions to your customers and grow your business.

Learn about Proofpoint Extraction Partners.

Learn about our global consulting and services partners that deliver fully managed and integrated solutions.

Learn about our relationships with industry-leading firms to help protect your people, data and brand.

Learn about the technology and alliance partners in our Social Media Protection Partner program.

Small Business Solutions for channel partners and MSPs.

Find the information you're looking for in our library of videos, data sheets, white papers and more.

Keep up with the latest news and happenings in the ever‑evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Learn about the human side of cybersecurity. Episodes feature insights from experts and executives.

Get the latest cybersecurity insights in your hands – featuring valuable knowledge from our own industry experts.

Learn about the latest security threats and how to protect your people, data, and brand.

Connect with us at events to learn how to protect your people and data from ever‑evolving threats.

Read how Proofpoint customers around the globe solve their most pressing cybersecurity challenges.

Browse our webinar library to learn about the latest threats, trends and issues in cybersecurity.

Get free research and resources to help you protect against threats, build a security culture, and stop ransomware in its tracks.

Proofpoint is a leading cybersecurity company that protects organizations' greatest assets and biggest risks: their people.

Stand out and make a difference at one of the world's leading cybersecurity companies.

Read the latest press releases, news stories and media highlights about Proofpoint.

Learn about how we handle data and make commitments to privacy and other regulations.

Learn about our people-centric principles and how we implement them to positively impact our global community.

Access the full range of Proofpoint support services.

What Is Cyber Crime?

Table of contents, cyber crime types and examples, the impact of cyber crime, cyber crime prevention, how proofpoint can help.

Cyber crime has become alarmingly prevalent in a world where most transactions are conducted online using digital platforms. Based on current cyber crime trends , the cost of such attacks could reach upwards of $20 trillion worldwide by 2026.

Cyber crime is a general term describing the myriad of criminal activities carried out using a computer, network, or another set of digital devices. Consider cyber crime the umbrella over the vast range of illegal activities that cyber criminals commit. These include hacking, phishing, identity theft , ransomware, and malware attacks, among many others.

The reach of cyber crime knows no physical boundaries. Criminals, victims, and technical infrastructure span worldwide. With the use of technology to exploit security vulnerabilities on both a personal and enterprise level, cyber crime takes many shapes and continuously evolves. In turn, the ability to effectively investigate, prosecute, and prevent cyber crimes is an ongoing fight with many dynamic challenges.

Cyber crime poses a serious threat to individuals, businesses, and government entities and can result in significant financial loss, damaged reputation, and compromised records. As technology advances and more people rely on digital devices and networks for standard operations, the threat of cyber crime continues to increase, making it more critical than ever to take steps to protect against it.

Cybersecurity Education and Training Begins Here

Here’s how your free trial works:.

• Meet with our cybersecurity experts to assess your environment and identify your threat risk exposure
• Within 24 hours and minimal configuration, we'll deploy our solutions for 30 days
• Experience our technology in action!
• Receive report outlining your security vulnerabilities to help you take immediate action against cybersecurity attacks

Fill out this form to request a meeting with our cybersecurity experts.

Thank you for your submission.

Cyber crime covers a broad spectrum of criminal activities that involve various digital platforms and technologies. Many types of cyber crimes are worth discussing, from fraudulent emails and social media activity to phishing scams and ransomware attacks. While some of these overlap with how they are committed, the most common include:

Email Scams

Misleading schemes that take many forms. Fake emails mislead recipients, while social engineering techniques deceive people into divulging information, such as credit card numbers, or transferring money to the attacker. Phishing schemes, whereby scammers mimic legitimate brands, are a common form of email scams .

Social Media Fraud

Scams that use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to deceive and defraud victims. Examples include fictitious online stores, catfishing , social engineering attacks, or impersonation scams. Social media frauds often exploit user trust, naivety, and a tendency to overshare personal information online.

Banking Fraud

Fraudulent activities that target financial institutions or their customers and stakeholders. Banking frauds most commonly result in significant financial loss or identity theft, and attacker strategies often involve sophisticated hacking and social engineering tactics. Examples include credit card fraud, ATM skimming, and online banking scams.

eCommerce Fraud

Elaborate consumer scams that exploit weaknesses and pitfalls of online shopping technologies, like artificial or fabricated online stores, fake seller accounts, or credit card information theft. Cases of eCommerce fraud typically result in financial losses on behalf of both consumers and online retailers.

A highly-prevalent software attack programmed to damage and manipulate computer systems by introducing viruses, trojans, or spyware into the system. Malware is a frequent problem across many cases because it targets both individual PCs and enterprise-level computer networks. It's most commonly used for disrupting networks and stealing data from users.

A type of malware attack that encrypts victims' critical data and declares a ransom payment in exchange for a decryption key to recover access. Financially crippling for individuals and organizations alike, ransomware attacks often lead to data and asset loss, fiscal devastation, and disrupted productivity. One of the most talked about ransomware cases involved Costa Rica’s government and erupted into a national emergency.

Cyber Espionage

The use of hacking, malware attacks, or other cyber activity in which an unauthorized user attempts to access sensitive data or intellectual property to gain a competitive advantage over a company or government entity. Cases of cyber espionage often involve state-sponsored groups or individual hackers and can have major political or economic implications. One of the most significant cases of cyber espionage was the five Chinese military hackers indicted for computer hacking, economic espionage, and other offenses directed at U.S. entities.

Data Breaches

Unauthorized access or leaks of sensitive data, such as confidential information, critical records, or financial access. Data breaches can be attributed to a wide array of risk factors, such as weak passwords and cybersecurity protocols, software system vulnerabilities, or insider threats. The consequences can result in compromised data, financial damages, or tarnished reputations. Verizon's data breach investigations report highlighted that 82% of breaches involved a human element.

Computer Viruses

Perhaps the most common type of malicious software that can self-replicate and spread to other systems, often causing damage to computer files or programs. Examples of computer viruses include the Melissa, ILOVEYOU, and Nimda viruses - all spread fast to infect files and damage computer systems.

DDoS Attacks

Distributed Denial of Service attacks, or DDoS attacks , are programmed to overwhelm a network or website with traffic, causing it to slow down or crash entirely. DDoS attacks were one of many of Russia’s destructive cyber activities against Ukraine, along with other attacks designed to delete computer data belonging to governmental and private entities.

Software Piracy

A digital form of intellectual property theft involving unauthorized use or distribution of copyrighted material, such as software, music, or movies. Examples of software piracy include using key generators or crack software to activate paid software without a license.

Phishing Scams

Email fraud that involves techniques like deceptive emails, website scams, or misleading communications to con victims into sharing their personal information and sensitive data or clicking links to malicious downloads and websites. Examples of phishing scams involve emails that appear to be from household brands, financial institutions, government agencies, or social media sites.

Identity Theft

In a digital context, identity theft refers to acquiring someone's private data for fraudulent or malicious purposes. Target assets of identity theft include social security numbers, date of birth, credit card details, or online accounts. Specific types include financial, medical, and tax identity theft; social media impersonation; and identity cloning, when a person uses another's identity to conceal their own.

Online Harassment

Involves cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and repeated acts intended to scare, harm, anger, or shame a particular individual. Today, online harassment is most prevalent on social media sites, dating apps, and forums/message boards. Examples of online harassment include sending inappropriate and unsolicited messages, making clear and intentional threats, or distributing sensitive photos or videos of a victim.

Cyber Terrorism

Generally grander acts of destruction online by using the Internet or computer technology to carry out acts of terror, such as causing infrastructure damage and catastrophic malfunctions, stealing confidential information, or spreading propaganda with political or cultural implications. Cases of cyber terrorism are becoming increasingly sophisticated, placing higher demands on cybersecurity and protection.

As the types of cyber crime become increasingly sophisticated, so does the sheer volume of associated threats and financial losses. According to FBI reports, Secretary Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security highlighted losses related to cyber crime exceeding $4.1 billion in 2020.

More recent reports by the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) division show losses surpassing $6.9 billion in 2021. Based on the IC3's report , the FBI attributes this steep rise in cyber crime losses to more ransomware attacks, business email compromise scams, and cryptocurrency-related crimes. The report also highlights the evolving landscape of cyber-attacks becoming increasingly interconnected with international relations and foreign intelligence threats.

On a more granular level, cyber crime runs rampant in many peoples' homes and personal computers. According to stats reported by the Cyber & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), 47% of Americans exposed their personal information to criminals online, and malicious software infected one-third of home computers.

The future impact of cyber crime looks to be a pivotal economic driver and a massive call to action for cybersecurity companies and countries that host them. Cybersecurity Ventures predicts the global costs of cyber crime will continue to grow by 15% a year over the next five years, reaching $10.5 trillion in annual damages by 2025.

As the overall cost and risks associated with cyber crimes continue to increase, so does the need to continuously implement, monitor, and upgrade prevention systems and technologies. Between foreign adversaries, terrorists, and everyday scammers, cyber-attacks are becoming smarter and more sophisticated.

Individuals, businesses, and governmental entities must take proactive measures to prevent cyber crime from penetrating security systems and infiltrating sensitive data. While some cyber crime prevention strategies remain steadfast in warding off attackers, there's also been a new wave of modern technologies to help support these initiatives.

Advanced Cybersecurity Systems

One of the key strategies in preventing cyber crime is utilizing advanced cybersecurity protection. This includes fundamental technologies like firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems, but more advanced cybersecurity systems are evolving with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Implementing the right cybersecurity tools should be a top priority for any organization or individual aiming to protect itself from cyber-attacks and digital threats.

Multifactor Authentication

Multifactor authentication (MFA), commonly used as two-factor authentication, is a common security protocol that prevents data breaches, hacks, and other direct cyber-attacks. In simple terms, this process requires users to provide two or more forms of identification to authenticate access to their accounts, such as needing a password and an access code sent to a device. Now a best practice protocol for organizations, MFA adds extra layers of cybersecurity to online accounts, making it much more challenging for attackers to access your data.

Virtual Private Networks

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a service that enables users to browse the Internet with reinforced security and anonymity. VPNs are engineered to encrypt online activity, making it far more difficult for cyber-attackers to intercept and steal your data. VPNs act as intermediaries between your device and the targeted server, adding their own encryption layer and routing communication via their own servers. VPNs are especially effective in helping protect against email frauds like phishing scams by masking your IP address and location.

Email Security Solutions

Email accounts are one of the most frequently exploited channels for cyber-attackers to breach access to sensitive data and private information. Specialized email security technologies can be leveraged to prevent this activity, which includes solutions like email encryption, spam filters, and antivirus software. Encryption is a powerful technology that protects email content from interception. Spam filters detect and prevent unwarranted and malicious emails from reaching your inbox, while antivirus software detects and removes malicious attachments from emails.

Password Managers

Cyber criminals frequently attack password credentials. In addition to creating secure, difficult-to-hack passwords, password managers are software applications that securely store multiple login credentials in an encrypted database, all of which are locked behind a master password. Password managers are commonly used by organizations, remote teams, and individuals to provide extra security protection when surfing the web while safely maintaining passwords in a safe space. The most common password managers include 1Password, KeePass, LastPass, and Apple's iCloud Keychain. However, some password managers come with risks.

Security Awareness Training

Many cyber-attacks result from human error, such as clicking on malicious links or downloading virus-containing files. Security awareness training is intended to help educate users on how to better identify, avoid, and mitigate the threat of cyber-attacks. The most common forms of training are computer-based awareness training and phishing simulated exercises where employees receive fake phishing emails to test how they react. Security awareness training helps organizations establish a security-conscious culture, creating a more resilient network to protect against cyber-attackers.

Data Backup and Recovery

Many forms of cyber-attacks can result in critical data loss, which can have severe financial and operational repercussions for both individuals and organizations. Data backup and recovery solutions can help mitigate the damages from data loss by creating backup copies of data and ensuring a faster recovery in the event of a ransomware attack, data breach, or another form of cyber-attack. Regularly archiving data is an essential security protocol to ensure that you can recover your data in the event of an attack.

AI and ML Cyber Crime Protection

More advanced cyber crime prevention technologies now utilize machine learning and artificial intelligence to gather and analyze data, track and trace threats, pinpoint vulnerabilities, and respond to breaches. For example, ML algorithms can detect and prevent fraud in financial transactions by identifying patterns that indicate fraudulent activity and flagging them for review. Similarly, AI technologies can detect and prevent cyber-attacks on networks and systems by analyzing network traffic, identifying abnormal patterns, and responding to threats in real-time.

As an organization, it can be challenging to anticipate the seemingly endless forms of cyber crime and the sophisticated strategies used by attackers. Proofpoint provides the most effective, enterprise-level cybersecurity solutions to protect your critical assets and data from advanced cyber threats.

Related Cyber Crime Resources

Awareness material, 3 weeks of cybersecurity best practices for ‘23, protecting healthcare’s greatest cyber security risk, cybersecurity platform to protect people and defend data, crime finds a way: the evolution and experimentation of the cybercrime ecosystem.

Subscribe to the Proofpoint Blog

Ready to Give Proofpoint a Try?

Start with a free Proofpoint trial.

Essays About Cyber Crime: Top 5 Examples and 8 Prompts

Cybercrime is a severe issue that threatens user security and safety. To help you with this subject, see our essays about cyber crime examples and prompts.  

As its name suggests, cyber crime occurs in the digital space beyond our tangible keyboards, computer monitors, and phone screens. This criminal activity happens offline and online, and although many are affected, only 10% to 12% of the victims report these wrongdoings.

You may have encountered cyber crime in the virtual world as a victim or an almost-target. Most of us have the misfortune of being hacked, phished, spoofed, or attacked with a denial of service. At the same time, you may not know that you’ve committed a cyber crime by pirating software, music, movies, books, and other data.

5 Essay Examples

1. cyber crime essay for students and children by anonymous on toppr.com, 2. cyber crimes and its effects on youth by anonymous on edubirdie.com, 3. cyber crime by luz owens, 4. cyber crime: a threat to society by ankita yadav, 5. essay on cyber crime by anonymous on vedantu.com, 1. the future of cyber crime, 2. the benefits of cyber crime, 3. cyber crime and its impacts on an industry, 4. cyber crime prevention for the average user, 5. mobile protection from cyber crime, 6. the power of strong passwords to combat cyber crime, 7. laws and cyber crime, 8. my personal experience with cyber crime.

“Cyber Crime is not something which we cannot deal with our self. Likewise, with little use of our common sense and logic, we can stop Cyber Crimes from happening.”

The essay begins with cyber crime’s meaning, defining it as an illegal activity to harm others through a computer. The author also discusses the four significant categories of cybercrime: hacking, privacy, financial, and cyber terrorism, and digs into what each type covers. 

In the next part of the essay, the writer focuses on cybercrime in India, citing how it’s now a significant concern. So, the government implements cybercrime laws to protect itself and its citizens. You might also be interested in these articles about death penalty .

“Becoming the victim of cyber can have long lasting effects on any one’s life.”

After recognizing cybercrime as the most potent crime today, the author probes its direct connection to the creation of the Internet. Aside from pushing organizations to spend more on their online security to avoid vulnerability, cyber crime also causes lasting effects on its victims’ lives.

The essay provides various instances where criminals exploit unaware individuals through the web. An example is fake emails mimicking legitimate organizations that give criminals access to the victim’s personal information to ruin their financial credibility. Unfortunately, the main targets for these crimes are the youth as they are the most who use the web for their studies.  

“In order to diminish cyber crime, all organizations and governments should cooperate, as it has no boundaries.”

Owens compares the new century and the old days when cybercrime didn’t exist. She then describes cyber crime, its different classifications, and how much damage it causes annually. She concedes that this criminal act is difficult to control because most countries don’t have the right laws against it. 

Owens also discusses how the youth are more prone to cybercrime exposure because they’re more likely to use technology and be curious. She includes relevant cases and studies that analyze cyber crime, its effects, and how it’s used to the detriment of others.

“Cyber crime is the criminal act which takes place over the internet through computers as tools or targets or other smart devices meant for making our work easier.”

Yadav determines cybercrime as a punishable offense committed via the internet, causing loss to an individual, organization, or government. She lists examples of cybercrime and how everyone falls victim to them, no matter their educational attainment. In her conclusion, Yadav recognizes cybercrime as the most prevalent misdeed today and calls for more severe measures to prevent it.

“Cybercrime or attack is defined as the systematic criminal activity occurring digitally and done by attackers.”

This essay highlights privacy issues connected to the steady rise of smartphones and internet usage. It’s also the reason users should be knowledgeable about cyber crime. The author defines cyber crime and expounds on its adverse effects on individuals, properties, and the government. The author also mentions specific crimes like hacking, theft, and cyberstalking.

Looking for more suggestions? Check out our essays about technology for your next project.

8 Prompts for Essays About Cyber Crime

Cybercrime continuously evolves as more people learn about its potential and countermeasures. Consider this essay prompt if you have several ideas and theories about how cybercrime will adapt to new anti-cybercrime measures. 

Don’t forget to research the current state of cybercrime, the capabilities of the criminals that perform it, and the laws made to prevent it. Make sure to include research data and support your theories with relevant studies.

While cybercrime is an umbrella term for illegal acts in cyberspace, it can also lead to positive results. One silver lining example of cybercrime is that it pushes software developers to create more effective protection measures against online attacks. Its rising occurrence among the youth also means that more people are becoming more educated about this issue and can thus actively prevent it from happening.

In this controversial essay topic, discuss the possible benefits of cybercrime. Look into how cybercrime might push technology forwards and improve personal data protection online. Cite relevant case studies and reference platforms with strict security measures, such as Meta .

Whether it’s healthcare, education, or banking, you can always find different and unique cybercrime impacts in various fields. Write an essay about how cyber criminals and their illegal actions can affect a specific industry, depending on your specialty or interest. For example, you can talk about the impacts of cybercrime on students and teachers if you work in the educational field.

One frustrating thing about being an average computer or device user is that you may need more resources to protect yourself from the latest cyber-attacks. With in-depth research and help from field experts, write an essay about how the average Joe can defend himself for a small fee or for free.

Most people spend hours on their smartphones and other mobile devices. Those who use their phones for work, banking, entertainment, and others are always at risk of cyber attacks. For this prompt, research how smartphone users can create a security blanket against cybercrime when they surf the internet, use banking apps, or linger on social media. Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

If there is one thing cybercriminals hate, it’s a strong and complex password. With this essay prompt, you can discuss creative and memorable ways individuals can create unique passwords. 

For example, they can spell their sibling’s name backward and add their favorite number and symbols at the end. Favorite colors, food items, dates, and other things can also work as effective password choices when used with the right symbol, capitalization, and number combinations. There are also helpful apps such as 1password , which creates strong passwords automatically for users.

For this prompt, look for laws worldwide that successfully assist the government in fighting cybercrime. Add your opinion on how your country should adapt these laws and if there are any areas of these proposals you want to change, remove, or improve.

If you’ve had a distressing memory concerning cybercrime, recount the experience in your essay. Tell how it happened and what you did to battle its impact on your life. Similarly, you can also talk about any cybercrime you unintentionally committed and how you worked on stopping yourself from repeating it. Looking for more suggestions? Check out our essays about technology for your next project.

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

View all posts

Cyber Crime - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

Cyber crime encompasses any criminal activity that involves a computer, networked device or a network itself. Essays on cyber crime might explore various types of cyber crimes, the methodologies used by criminals, and the impact of these crimes on individuals, businesses, and nations. Discussions could also cover the challenges in cyber security, the role of governmental and international agencies in combating cyber crime, and the evolving legal frameworks designed to prosecute and prevent cyber crime. Analyzing the psychological and sociological factors contributing to cyber crime, and examining case studies of significant cyber criminal activities can provide a comprehensive insight into the digital underworld. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Cyber Crime you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Cyber Security and how to Prevent Cyber Crime

Cybercrimes are interrupting normal computer functions and has brought many known companies and personal entities to their knees. Over the last decade, crime has entered into the world of information. Crime is developing gradually since the days when merchandise was transported by stagecoach, theft or extortion has changed to keep up, even to our modern-day equivalent-credit and debit cards. Stealing credit card number has become well known danger. In the present, internet has become a playing field for computer attackers. […]

Problem of Cyber Crime and Security

Spam Spam, or the unsolicited sending of mass email for commercial purposes, is illegal to varying degrees. In relation to email, specific anti-spam laws are relatively new, however restrictions on unsolicited electronic communications have existed in various forms for some time. Spam originating from India accounts for one percent of all spam emanating from the top 25 spam-producing countries, making India the 18th ranked country globally for generating spam. Phishing Phishing is a system used by outsiders to "fish" for […]

Importance of Teamwork in Healthcare

Introduction The ability of more than one person to interact professionally with a common goal of improving service delivery to patients is essential in achieving the objective of increasing patient satisfaction at places of work. The study indicates that the ability of healthcare professionals to work as a unit is a key component to better offer medical services to situations where populations that require health services are relatively larger compared to the workforce available to provide the medical services. The […]

We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs.

Big Data and Cyber Crimes

In a universe full of high-technology, software is now available to predict future crimes, generate virtual "most wanted lists, and collect personal identifiable information. This new innovation of technology is called Big Data. Big data is an evolving term that describes any voluminous amount of structured, semi -structured, and unstructured data that has the potential to be mined for information (Bigelow). Big data generates value from large data cells that cannot be analyzed with traditional computing techniques. The quantity of […]

Importance of Cyber Crime Management

It is the main motive of state and central government to identity theft, the network intrusions and software piracy. It is a criminal activity, it begun when the hackers starts illegally accessing high level networks. The paper which gives the elaborated form of information regarding cybercrime and security measures including the prevention how to deal with cyber crime. Though they listed the hierarchy of global rankings people may not be aware of. It deals with financial crimes, cyber pornography, online […]

History of the Fireman in Fahrenheit 451

The book is shown in third-person through Guy Montag, a fireman. But, in the story, firemen do not put out fires, since every house is fireproof. Instead, they cause them, burning books and the houses of the people who own them. Montag is walking home one night when he meets Clarisse, a young girl who is different from everyone else. She talks to him about things that he, or anybody else, never think about, removing him from the monotony of […]

Cyber Crime in Daily Life

In every law enforcement department, it is important for officers to work with Integrity and ethics can be fundamental.  According to U.S Department of Justice Police integrity and ethics are fundamental to effective policing and help build trust within communities. Building a transparency relation with the community can help the department by reducing the number of complaints and reduce the crime rate.  Finding ways to improve integrity by stopping cybercrime among officer's it is important for any department, like for […]

Pecularities of Cyber Crime and Security

CAPABILITIES VS ACLS: Inside PC frameworks, the two key methods for implementing benefit partition are get to control records (ACLs) and abilities. The semantics of ACLs have been ended up being uncertain by and large (e.g., befuddled agent issue). It has additionally been demonstrated that ACL's guarantee of offering access to a question just a single individual can never be ensured practically speaking. Both of these issues are settled by abilities. This does not mean pragmatic imperfections exist in all […]

Examples of Stereotyping in to Kill a Mockingbird

While racism is the most common form of discrimination in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many more forms of injustices in the book. From the beginning of the book, we read sly remarks about Scout's blatant tomboyish nature, from her brother Jem. Later, however, we hear the white citizens of Maycomb county use very offensive racial slurs towards the African American citizens; but racial slurs aside, the other forms of disrespect that most of the whites show […]

Event that Sparked Personal Growth

One of the major events that sparked a period of personal growth and improved my understanding of myself and those around me related to an instance when my best friend Jones became diagnosed with a rare kidney condition. Having known him since we were five years old, we have spent a lot of time together and had been to the same learning institutions since childhood. At the time he was diagnosed with the ailment, he was living in a different […]

The Role of Science in Frankenstein

Mary Shelley tells a story of a scientist who creates a hideous creature in the novel Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein is an amazing, smart scientist who admired human anatomy, and soon decided to create his own creature. Who is more at fault for the monsters behavior, Victor or the monster? If you were in the monsters position would you become a murderer for revenge? The monster is often viewed as the antagonist, however is Victor Frankenstein the reason many people in […]

Elements of Comedy in the Play Hamlet

Hamlet is one of Shakespeare's' most famous plays, for it revolves around external and internal conflicts or struggles within the main character, Hamlet, which makes it unique from a typical revenge story. Although the genre of the play is a tragedy it contains various elements of comedy throughout the darkest moments of the play. At the start of the play guardsmen at the royal palace have seen a ghost which seems to be former King Hamlet, and convinces noblemen Horatio […]

About Feminism in Hamlet

Ophelia agrees to take Laertes’s advice. She agrees to take his advice because she knows nothing else than to listen a man. She is dependent on men and continues to do whatever they tell her. She saids “this is a good lesson keep, As a watchman to my heart.” (1.3.51) She sees it as he is looking out for her, which he is but it reality he is demanding her to stay away from Hamlet to keep her purity. Laertes […]

Police Abuse of Power

Police brutality refers to systematic misuse of authority and powers through the unwarranted infliction of bodily or psychological pain to civilians by law enforcers during their official duties. The routine enforcement of law using excessive force against unarmed civilians and the correctional misuse of facilities to manipulate, inflict, injure or subject a civilian to torture amounts to police brutality. Militarily prisons and federal penal correctional facilities, through the personnel operating the facilities, can practice police brutality through extreme subjection of […]

Protagonist in Books “To Kill a Mockingbird”

The protagonist is Jean Louise (a.k.a Scout.) She is the narrator of the story. Scout is 6 to 9 years old in this story. She is a white girl in the middle of racist times during the Great Depression. Because of this, her family is poor but is still more valued than others. Scout's appearance is not directly mentioned, but it can be inferred she wears breeches and has bangs. Scout is very intelligent, for her father has taught her […]

The Current Trends and Issues of Social Media and its Effects on the Criminal Justice System

Technology keeps changing and getting more and more in everybody's face we can't avoid it. With that being said the more it advances and what if has become from say 50 years ago takes a big effect on the criminal justice system in many ways. Now there are good and bad ways it affects it. A good way would be someone could record and officer doing something that is actually wrong and he gets in trouble for it or a […]

Youth Homelessness in the United States

Imagine having to live on the streets, in unbearable conditions, never knowing what it is like to be in a stable environment. This presents many challenges faced by children as young as a few months old. These challenges are faced by some of the more than 500,000 children (Bass 2017). These children do not have anywhere to call home and very little resources to help them a place to live. These numbers of homeless youth are increasing making it harder […]

The Importance of Animal Models in Vaccines

If you have ever taken any type of medicine or had a vaccine, you have benefited from animal testing: Research with animals led to vaccinations against smallpox, measles, mumps, and tetanus. The world's first vaccine was tested on a cow in 1796 during the observation of milkmaids who caught cowpox , which is now called smallpox, from infected cow utters. This disease was eradicated in 1980 with the help of lab animals. Looking at the more frequent viruses in our […]

Stop Police Brutality against Minority’s

Police abuse remains one of the most serious human rights violations in the United States. Over the past decades, police have acted out in ways that have made people wonder, are our officer really doing their jobs?. Unjustified shootings have contributed to the ever present problem of police brutality in America. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Jim Crow laws were state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States mandated racial segregation in […]

American Rule in the Philippines and Racism

During our almost 50 years of control in the Philippines, many of our law makers and leaders were fueled by debates at home, and also our presence overseas. These two perspectives gave a lot of controversy as to how Americans were taking control, and confusion of what they were actually doing in the Philippines. Many leaders drew from Anglo- Saxon beliefs, which lead to racist ideas and laws. These combined proved unfair treatment of the Filipinos and large amounts of […]

Marxism and Malthusian Theories

Introduction The problem to the issue of giving out socialist ideas is the perception that poverty is something natural to human beings. It is usually caused as a result of rapid growth in population that surpasses the amount of food produced. This was basically what was stipulated by Thomas Malthus in his publication titled the principle of population as it affects the future improvement of society that was released in 1978. Malthus was one of the famous ancient political economists […]

The Emergence of a New Cold War: Implications and Challenges

On October 4th, 2018 a speech was given in the Hudson Institute, the think tank and research center dedicated to nonpartisan analysis of United States and international economic, security, and political issues (Hudson Institute), in Washington D.C., Maryland. Vice President Mike Pence, addressed a speech to China's leaders/government. Pence formally addressed the matter that there will be a new, tougher approach toward Beijing. Pence's speech was very straightforward, surprising Beijing of the 'alleged offenses' in only one public indictment, speaking […]

Cyberbullying and Business

Cyberbullying is it normally associated with large corporations. Now social media is a company's downfall (David, 2018). The word cyber has anything dealing with networking and computers. It is a way someone can use computers to cause dangers or harm to anyone (Benner, 2012). This can be done by being hacked to where they can get your credit card information. This can also can destroy family and an individual's life. Businesses cannot protect themselves from this type of illegal attack. […]

Criminal Law & Procedure

Abstract While the criminal justice system as a whole is important, the court system plays a large role after a complaint and lawful arrest. The process includes, but not limited to: arraignment, discovery, plea bargaining, trial, and sentencing. An arraignment is the defendant's first court appearance. An arraignment is also known as first appearance and a preliminary hearing (Hails, 2012, page 53). Discovery is where the prosecution and defense disclose all information that will be used for/against the defendant during […]

Careers in Criminal Justice

Education and Professional Law Enforcement The American police officer execrate a promise to defend and aid the people they embody. They are presented by the administration to implement the law by detaining offenders and sensing and averting misconducts. Germann (1967) commences by stating that “there was a time when the American policeman would be inclined to define his job and role in a very narrow fashion” (p. 603). However, he continues that policing obligations are no longer simple responsibilities necessitating […]

How are Organizations Influenced Today by the Civil Rights Era then and Now

“The minute we look away, the minute we stop fighting back, that’s the minute bigotry wins” (DaShanne Stokes). Blacks and whites in America see racism and disparities in the United States very differently. How we view race, racism, inequality, and the justice system depends a lot on our background. The things that are occurring in our country now are no different than the events that occured in Los Angeles’s 1972, Chicago 1960, as well as New York in the 1970’s […]

Significance of Lewis and Clark Lake to the American History Working

Thesis:Lewis and Clark Lake holds numerous types of fish that display different characteristics and therefore the lake forms a vital part of the American History. This article explores the topic of percid fishes which are freshwater derivatives of marine perciform. The fishes have undergone tremendous radiation and hence they comprise of 151 species available in North America. Nelson explores some of the reasons as to why it is essential to study the reproductive habits exhibited by organisms. In addition, Nelson […]

Neuroscience of Addictions – Brain Chemistry in Action

Prescription stimulants belong to Schedule II drugs as per the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classification. They are highly abused because they are easily accessible. This leads to the emergence of substance abuse disorder. Drug abuse denotes using prescription stimulants or any other drug for reasons other than the intended one. Non-medical use of prescription stimulants increases annually and now ranks second after marijuana among other illicit drugs. Sedative-hypnotics are drugs used to sustain sleep (Schmiedl et al., 2014). Additionally, they […]

Prevalence of Decubitus UlcerIncidence and Prevalence of Decubitus Ulcer in American Hospitals is on the Rise

This makes decubitus ulcer a serious concern for nurses.Cases of decubitus ulcer among patients are becoming common in hospitals across the planet with numerous cases reported by the World Health Organization. The prevalence of this condition ranges from 3% to 50% in the services of Intensive Care (ICU), Internal Medicine and Neurology.? In addition, their presence is related to the processes of care, prevention and care provided by nursing staff.? According to study carried out in a Lodi Memorial Hospital on the […]

How US Intervention in Afghanistan during the Cold War Led to the Global War on Terror

During the Cold War in the late 1970s the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. At the time, tensions between the Soviet Union and the US were high, and so the US was trying to combat the Soviet influence without direct military action that may result in a war between the two nuclear armed countries. The US answer to this problem was to train, arm, and support local Afghans who were against the Soviets. This strategy of waging a proxy war was […]

Featured Categories

Additional example essays.

• Ethics in Criminal Justice for Justice and Equality
• Creation of Serial Killers - Nature Versus Nurture
• Revisiting the Controversy: Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults?
• Racism in Criminal Justice System
• Racial Discrimination in Justice System
• Does the Death Penalty Effectively Deter Crime?
• The Pros of the Death Penalty: Deterrence and Consequence for Major Crimes
• The Death Penalty and Mental Illness: The Ethical Debate
• Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System
• Who Is to Blame for Romeo and Juliets Death?
• Romeo And Juliet Gender Roles
• The Theme of Fate in 'Romeo and Juliet'

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

• CBSE Class 10th
• CBSE Class 12th
• UP Board 10th
• UP Board 12th
• Bihar Board 10th
• Bihar Board 12th
• Top Schools in India
• Top Schools in Delhi
• Top Schools in Mumbai
• Top Schools in Chennai
• Top Schools in Hyderabad
• Top Schools in Kolkata
• Top Schools in Pune
• Top Schools in Bangalore

Products & Resources

• JEE Main Knockout April
• Free Sample Papers
• Free Ebooks
• NCERT Notes
• NCERT Syllabus
• NCERT Books
• RD Sharma Solutions
• Navodaya Vidyalaya Admission 2024-25
• NCERT Solutions
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12
• NCERT Solutions for Class 11
• NCERT solutions for Class 10
• NCERT solutions for Class 9
• NCERT solutions for Class 8
• NCERT Solutions for Class 7
• JEE Main 2024
• MHT CET 2024
• JEE Advanced 2024
• BITSAT 2024
• View All Engineering Exams
• Colleges Accepting B.Tech Applications
• Top Engineering Colleges in India
• Engineering Colleges in India
• Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu
• Engineering Colleges Accepting JEE Main
• Top IITs in India
• Top NITs in India
• Top IIITs in India
• JEE Main College Predictor
• JEE Main Rank Predictor
• MHT CET College Predictor
• AP EAMCET College Predictor
• GATE College Predictor
• KCET College Predictor
• JEE Advanced College Predictor
• View All College Predictors
• JEE Main Question Paper
• JEE Main Cutoff
• JEE Main Answer Key
• JEE Main Result
• Download E-Books and Sample Papers
• Compare Colleges
• B.Tech College Applications
• JEE Advanced Registration
• MAH MBA CET Exam
• View All Management Exams

Colleges & Courses

• MBA College Admissions
• MBA Colleges in India
• Top IIMs Colleges in India
• Top Online MBA Colleges in India
• MBA Colleges Accepting XAT Score
• BBA Colleges in India
• XAT College Predictor 2024
• SNAP College Predictor
• NMAT College Predictor
• MAT College Predictor 2024
• CMAT College Predictor 2024
• CAT Percentile Predictor 2023
• CAT 2023 College Predictor
• CMAT 2024 Registration
• TS ICET 2024 Registration
• CMAT Exam Date 2024
• MAH MBA CET Cutoff 2024
• Download Helpful Ebooks
• List of Popular Branches
• QnA - Get answers to your doubts
• IIM Fees Structure
• AIIMS Nursing
• Top Medical Colleges in India
• Top Medical Colleges in India accepting NEET Score
• Medical Colleges accepting NEET
• List of Medical Colleges in India
• List of AIIMS Colleges In India
• Medical Colleges in Maharashtra
• Medical Colleges in India Accepting NEET PG
• NEET College Predictor
• NEET PG College Predictor
• NEET MDS College Predictor
• DNB CET College Predictor
• DNB PDCET College Predictor
• NEET Application Form 2024
• NEET PG Application Form 2024
• NEET Cut off
• NEET Online Preparation
• Download Helpful E-books
• LSAT India 2024
• Colleges Accepting Admissions
• Top Law Colleges in India
• Law College Accepting CLAT Score
• List of Law Colleges in India
• Top Law Colleges in Delhi
• Top Law Collages in Indore
• Top Law Colleges in Chandigarh
• Top Law Collages in Lucknow

Predictors & E-Books

• CLAT College Predictor
• MHCET Law ( 5 Year L.L.B) College Predictor
• AILET College Predictor
• Sample Papers
• Compare Law Collages
• Careers360 Youtube Channel
• CLAT Syllabus 2025
• CLAT Previous Year Question Paper
• AIBE 18 Result 2023
• NID DAT Exam
• Pearl Academy Exam

Animation Courses

• Animation Courses in India
• Animation Courses in Bangalore
• Animation Courses in Mumbai
• Animation Courses in Pune
• Animation Courses in Chennai
• Animation Courses in Hyderabad
• Design Colleges in India
• Fashion Design Colleges in Bangalore
• Fashion Design Colleges in Mumbai
• Fashion Design Colleges in Pune
• Fashion Design Colleges in Delhi
• Fashion Design Colleges in Hyderabad
• Fashion Design Colleges in India
• Top Design Colleges in India
• Free Design E-books
• List of Branches
• Careers360 Youtube channel
• NIFT College Predictor
• UCEED College Predictor
• NID DAT College Predictor
• IPU CET BJMC
• JMI Mass Communication Entrance Exam
• IIMC Entrance Exam
• Media & Journalism colleges in Delhi
• Media & Journalism colleges in Bangalore
• Media & Journalism colleges in Mumbai
• List of Media & Journalism Colleges in India
• CA Intermediate
• CA Foundation
• CS Executive
• CS Professional
• Difference between CA and CS
• Difference between CA and CMA
• CA Full form
• CMA Full form
• CS Full form
• CA Salary In India

Top Courses & Careers

• Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
• Master of Commerce (M.Com)
• Company Secretary
• Cost Accountant
• Charted Accountant
• Credit Manager
• Financial Advisor
• Top Commerce Colleges in India
• Top Government Commerce Colleges in India
• Top Private Commerce Colleges in India
• Top M.Com Colleges in Mumbai
• Top B.Com Colleges in India
• IT Colleges in Tamil Nadu
• IT Colleges in Uttar Pradesh
• MCA Colleges in India
• BCA Colleges in India

Quick Links

• Information Technology Courses
• Programming Courses
• Web Development Courses
• Data Analytics Courses
• Big Data Analytics Courses
• RUHS Pharmacy Admission Test
• Top Pharmacy Colleges in India
• Pharmacy Colleges in Pune
• Pharmacy Colleges in Mumbai
• Colleges Accepting GPAT Score
• Pharmacy Colleges in Lucknow
• List of Pharmacy Colleges in Nagpur
• GPAT Result
• GPAT 2024 Admit Card
• GPAT Question Papers
• NCHMCT JEE 2024
• Mah BHMCT CET
• Top Hotel Management Colleges in Delhi
• Top Hotel Management Colleges in Hyderabad
• Top Hotel Management Colleges in Mumbai
• Top Hotel Management Colleges in Tamil Nadu
• Top Hotel Management Colleges in Maharashtra
• B.Sc Hotel Management
• Hotel Management
• Diploma in Hotel Management and Catering Technology

Diploma Colleges

• Top Diploma Colleges in Maharashtra
• UPSC IAS 2024
• SSC CGL 2024
• IBPS RRB 2024
• Previous Year Sample Papers
• Free Competition E-books
• Sarkari Result
• QnA- Get your doubts answered
• UPSC Previous Year Sample Papers
• CTET Previous Year Sample Papers
• SBI Clerk Previous Year Sample Papers
• NDA Previous Year Sample Papers

Upcoming Events

• NDA Application Form 2024
• UPSC IAS Application Form 2024
• CDS Application Form 2024
• CTET Admit card 2024
• HP TET Result 2023
• SSC GD Constable Admit Card 2024
• UPTET Notification 2024
• SBI Clerk Result 2024

Other Exams

• SSC CHSL 2024
• UP PCS 2024
• UGC NET 2024
• RRB NTPC 2024
• IBPS PO 2024
• IBPS Clerk 2024
• IBPS SO 2024
• Top University in USA
• Top University in Canada
• Top University in Ireland
• Top Universities in UK
• Top Universities in Australia
• Best MBA Colleges in Abroad
• Business Management Studies Colleges

Top Countries

• Study in USA
• Study in UK
• Study in Canada
• Study in Australia
• Study in Ireland
• Study in Germany
• Study in China
• Study in Europe

Student Visas

• Student Visa Canada
• Student Visa UK
• Student Visa USA
• Student Visa Australia
• Student Visa Germany
• Student Visa New Zealand
• Student Visa Ireland
• CUET PG 2024
• IGNOU B.Ed Admission 2024
• DU Admission
• UP B.Ed JEE 2024
• DDU Entrance Exam
• IIT JAM 2024
• IGNOU Online Admission 2024
• Universities in India
• Top Universities in India 2024
• Top Colleges in India
• Top Universities in Uttar Pradesh 2024
• Top Universities in Bihar
• Top Universities in Madhya Pradesh 2024
• Top Universities in Tamil Nadu 2024
• Central Universities in India
• CUET PG Admit Card 2024
• IGNOU Date Sheet
• CUET Mock Test 2024
• CUET Application Form 2024
• CUET PG Syllabus 2024
• CUET Participating Universities 2024
• CUET Previous Year Question Paper
• CUET Syllabus 2024 for Science Students
• E-Books and Sample Papers
• CUET Exam Pattern 2024
• CUET Exam Date 2024
• CUET Syllabus 2024
• IGNOU Exam Form 2024
• IGNOU Result
• CUET PG Courses 2024

Engineering Preparation

• Knockout JEE Main 2024
• Test Series JEE Main 2024
• JEE Main 2024 Rank Booster

Medical Preparation

• Knockout NEET 2024
• Test Series NEET 2024
• Rank Booster NEET 2024

Online Courses

• JEE Main One Month Course
• NEET One Month Course
• IBSAT Free Mock Tests
• IIT JEE Foundation Course
• Knockout BITSAT 2024
• Career Guidance Tool

Top Streams

• IT & Software Certification Courses
• Engineering and Architecture Certification Courses
• Programming And Development Certification Courses
• Business and Management Certification Courses
• Marketing Certification Courses
• Health and Fitness Certification Courses
• Design Certification Courses

Specializations

• Digital Marketing Certification Courses
• Cyber Security Certification Courses
• Artificial Intelligence Certification Courses
• Business Analytics Certification Courses
• Data Science Certification Courses
• Cloud Computing Certification Courses
• Machine Learning Certification Courses
• View All Certification Courses
• UG Degree Courses
• PG Degree Courses
• Short Term Courses
• Free Courses
• Online Degrees and Diplomas
• Compare Courses

Top Providers

• Coursera Courses
• Udemy Courses
• Edx Courses
• Swayam Courses
• upGrad Courses
• Simplilearn Courses
• Great Learning Courses

Access premium articles, webinars, resources to make the best decisions for career, course, exams, scholarships, study abroad and much more with

Plan, Prepare & Make the Best Career Choices

Cyber Crime Essay

The unlawful act of gaining unauthorised access to computer systems or digital devices is known as cybercrime. A detailed grasp of how to stop or recover from cyberattacks is provided by cyber security. Online courses offer guidance on how to avoid, safeguard against, and recover from cybercrime risks. Here are a few sample essays on the topic ‘Cyber Crime’.

100 Words Essay on Cyber Crime

200 words essay on cyber crime, 500 words essay on cyber crime.

Cybercrime is the most discussed problem in the twenty-first century. The usage of cellphones and the internet is increasing dramatically over the world, which is generating questions about consumers' security and privacy. Because of this, it is crucial for all users to understand cybercrime and security. Cybercrime is defined as organised criminal conduct carried out by attackers online. Cybercrime comes in numerous forms, such as fraud, computer viruses, cyberstalking, and others. Due to these, businesses and government organisations are spending more on maintaining and employing professionals in cybercrime.

There are millions and billions of users and websites in the vast community known as cyberspace. People utilise it for a variety of activities including e-commerce, transactions, shopping, movies, music, and video games. Anyone can simply access anything online in the current technological era owing to accessible internet connection. As a result, crime in general and cybercrime in particular have surged dramatically. Additionally, the faster internet connection has greatly boosted the rate of data circulation. All of these problems are responsible as to why cyber security has grown to be a significant issue for society.

The government has created a number of cybercrime-related laws in an effort to curb the spread of the crime and to protect people's interests. These laws also provide defence against cybercrime. Aside from that, the government has established cyber cells in police stations to combat cybercrime as quickly as possible.

Cybercrime is an attack that can be harmful to both an individual and a business. There have been several instances where a cyber attack led to a data leak that caused a significant loss for a business or a person. These cyber-attacks could have negative effects on the country and the business. The countless instances of cyberattacks that have taken place in India and other nations have necessitated increased security measures. There are four main categories of cybercrime, according to a popular definition—hacking, money, privacy, and cyber terrorism.

Cybercrime is a type of crime in which illegal activities are carried out online or using computers. Cybercrime comes in a variety of forms which involves harassing online users. Cybercrime is the most serious and rapidly expanding type of crime in this day and age. Any person's life may be negatively impacted for a very long time by becoming a cyber victim. Cybercrimes have a wide range of repercussions on financial and investment activity in digital organisations.

One typical tactic used by criminals is to lure online users in by creating attractive websites and sending phoney emails purporting to be from banks or other organisations and asking for personal information. It makes it easier for criminals to access a person's bank account and personal data. Due to viruses, mail fraud, account hacking, and software piracy, people have been victims of cybercrimes. They also run into problems with unauthorised access mailing, threats from pornographic emails, and video transmission.

Types of Cyber Crime

Cyberstalking | It is the use of electronic communication to track down a person or to make repeated attempts to get in touch with them in order to foster personal interaction despite their blatant lack of interest. Anyone who monitors the internet, email, or any other form of electronic communication is guilty of stalking.

Phishing | It is a sort of fraud that includes collecting personal data from recipients of emails that seem to be coming from a reliable source, including Customer ID, IPIN, Credit/Debit Card number, Card expiration date, CVV number, etc.

Vishing | It is an attempt when criminals attempt to obtain personal information over the phone, such as Customer ID, Net Banking password, ATM PIN, OTP, Card expiration date, CVV, etc.

Smishing | It is a sort of fraud that employs text messages sent to mobile devices to entice victims into dialling a fake phone number, going to a fake website, or downloading harmful software.

Impersonation And Identity Theft | This includes the dishonest or fraudulent use of another person's electronic signature, password, or other distinctive identification trait.

Virus, Worms, Trojan | A computer virus is a programme designed to infiltrate your computer, corrupt your files and data, and spread itself. Worms are malicious software applications that repeatedly duplicate themselves on local drives, network shares, etc. Trojan is a malicious programme that mimics a legitimate application. Trojans offer unauthorised people and applications access to your computer through a backdoor entry, allowing them to steal sensitive data.

How to Prevent Cyber Crime

Backup every piece of information—data, systems, and considerations—to make it easier for businesses to recover from unforeseen events with the help of prior data.

Pick a firewall that offers protection from viruses, malware, and dishonest hackers.

Never divulge private information to a stranger since they might exploit it for fraud.

To avoid cybercrime, check your security settings—in order to determine if someone has logged into your computer, a cyber firewall analyses your network settings.

Antivirus software aids in identifying potential threats and malware before they infect a computer system. Never use software that has been cracked since it poses a serious risk of data loss or malware attack.

Keep your information protected when accessing untrusted websites—information can readily bypass the data through phishing websites.

Explore Career Options (By Industry)

• Construction
• Entertainment
• Manufacturing
• Information Technology

Data Administrator

Database professionals use software to store and organise data such as financial information, and customer shipping records. Individuals who opt for a career as data administrators ensure that data is available for users and secured from unauthorised sales. DB administrators may work in various types of industries. It may involve computer systems design, service firms, insurance companies, banks and hospitals.

Bio Medical Engineer

The field of biomedical engineering opens up a universe of expert chances. An Individual in the biomedical engineering career path work in the field of engineering as well as medicine, in order to find out solutions to common problems of the two fields. The biomedical engineering job opportunities are to collaborate with doctors and researchers to develop medical systems, equipment, or devices that can solve clinical problems. Here we will be discussing jobs after biomedical engineering, how to get a job in biomedical engineering, biomedical engineering scope, and salary. 

Ethical Hacker

A career as ethical hacker involves various challenges and provides lucrative opportunities in the digital era where every giant business and startup owns its cyberspace on the world wide web. Individuals in the ethical hacker career path try to find the vulnerabilities in the cyber system to get its authority. If he or she succeeds in it then he or she gets its illegal authority. Individuals in the ethical hacker career path then steal information or delete the file that could affect the business, functioning, or services of the organization.

GIS officer work on various GIS software to conduct a study and gather spatial and non-spatial information. GIS experts update the GIS data and maintain it. The databases include aerial or satellite imagery, latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates, and manually digitized images of maps. In a career as GIS expert, one is responsible for creating online and mobile maps.

Data Analyst

The invention of the database has given fresh breath to the people involved in the data analytics career path. Analysis refers to splitting up a whole into its individual components for individual analysis. Data analysis is a method through which raw data are processed and transformed into information that would be beneficial for user strategic thinking.

Data are collected and examined to respond to questions, evaluate hypotheses or contradict theories. It is a tool for analyzing, transforming, modeling, and arranging data with useful knowledge, to assist in decision-making and methods, encompassing various strategies, and is used in different fields of business, research, and social science.

Geothermal Engineer

Individuals who opt for a career as geothermal engineers are the professionals involved in the processing of geothermal energy. The responsibilities of geothermal engineers may vary depending on the workplace location. Those who work in fields design facilities to process and distribute geothermal energy. They oversee the functioning of machinery used in the field.

Database Architect

If you are intrigued by the programming world and are interested in developing communications networks then a career as database architect may be a good option for you. Data architect roles and responsibilities include building design models for data communication networks. Wide Area Networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), and intranets are included in the database networks. It is expected that database architects will have in-depth knowledge of a company's business to develop a network to fulfil the requirements of the organisation. Stay tuned as we look at the larger picture and give you more information on what is db architecture, why you should pursue database architecture, what to expect from such a degree and what your job opportunities will be after graduation. Here, we will be discussing how to become a data architect. Students can visit NIT Trichy , IIT Kharagpur , JMI New Delhi . 

Remote Sensing Technician

Individuals who opt for a career as a remote sensing technician possess unique personalities. Remote sensing analysts seem to be rational human beings, they are strong, independent, persistent, sincere, realistic and resourceful. Some of them are analytical as well, which means they are intelligent, introspective and inquisitive. 

Remote sensing scientists use remote sensing technology to support scientists in fields such as community planning, flight planning or the management of natural resources. Analysing data collected from aircraft, satellites or ground-based platforms using statistical analysis software, image analysis software or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a significant part of their work. Do you want to learn how to become remote sensing technician? There's no need to be concerned; we've devised a simple remote sensing technician career path for you. Scroll through the pages and read.

Budget Analyst

Budget analysis, in a nutshell, entails thoroughly analyzing the details of a financial budget. The budget analysis aims to better understand and manage revenue. Budget analysts assist in the achievement of financial targets, the preservation of profitability, and the pursuit of long-term growth for a business. Budget analysts generally have a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a closely related field. Knowledge of Financial Management is of prime importance in this career.

Underwriter

An underwriter is a person who assesses and evaluates the risk of insurance in his or her field like mortgage, loan, health policy, investment, and so on and so forth. The underwriter career path does involve risks as analysing the risks means finding out if there is a way for the insurance underwriter jobs to recover the money from its clients. If the risk turns out to be too much for the company then in the future it is an underwriter who will be held accountable for it. Therefore, one must carry out his or her job with a lot of attention and diligence.

Finance Executive

Product manager.

A Product Manager is a professional responsible for product planning and marketing. He or she manages the product throughout the Product Life Cycle, gathering and prioritising the product. A product manager job description includes defining the product vision and working closely with team members of other departments to deliver winning products.  

Operations Manager

Individuals in the operations manager jobs are responsible for ensuring the efficiency of each department to acquire its optimal goal. They plan the use of resources and distribution of materials. The operations manager's job description includes managing budgets, negotiating contracts, and performing administrative tasks.

Stock Analyst

Individuals who opt for a career as a stock analyst examine the company's investments makes decisions and keep track of financial securities. The nature of such investments will differ from one business to the next. Individuals in the stock analyst career use data mining to forecast a company's profits and revenues, advise clients on whether to buy or sell, participate in seminars, and discussing financial matters with executives and evaluate annual reports.

A Researcher is a professional who is responsible for collecting data and information by reviewing the literature and conducting experiments and surveys. He or she uses various methodological processes to provide accurate data and information that is utilised by academicians and other industry professionals. Here, we will discuss what is a researcher, the researcher's salary, types of researchers.

Welding Engineer

Welding Engineer Job Description: A Welding Engineer work involves managing welding projects and supervising welding teams. He or she is responsible for reviewing welding procedures, processes and documentation. A career as Welding Engineer involves conducting failure analyses and causes on welding issues. 

Transportation Planner

A career as Transportation Planner requires technical application of science and technology in engineering, particularly the concepts, equipment and technologies involved in the production of products and services. In fields like land use, infrastructure review, ecological standards and street design, he or she considers issues of health, environment and performance. A Transportation Planner assigns resources for implementing and designing programmes. He or she is responsible for assessing needs, preparing plans and forecasts and compliance with regulations.

Environmental Engineer

Individuals who opt for a career as an environmental engineer are construction professionals who utilise the skills and knowledge of biology, soil science, chemistry and the concept of engineering to design and develop projects that serve as solutions to various environmental problems. 

Safety Manager

A Safety Manager is a professional responsible for employee’s safety at work. He or she plans, implements and oversees the company’s employee safety. A Safety Manager ensures compliance and adherence to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines.

Conservation Architect

A Conservation Architect is a professional responsible for conserving and restoring buildings or monuments having a historic value. He or she applies techniques to document and stabilise the object’s state without any further damage. A Conservation Architect restores the monuments and heritage buildings to bring them back to their original state.

Structural Engineer

A Structural Engineer designs buildings, bridges, and other related structures. He or she analyzes the structures and makes sure the structures are strong enough to be used by the people. A career as a Structural Engineer requires working in the construction process. It comes under the civil engineering discipline. A Structure Engineer creates structural models with the help of computer-aided design software. 

Highway Engineer

Highway Engineer Job Description:  A Highway Engineer is a civil engineer who specialises in planning and building thousands of miles of roads that support connectivity and allow transportation across the country. He or she ensures that traffic management schemes are effectively planned concerning economic sustainability and successful implementation.

Field Surveyor

Are you searching for a Field Surveyor Job Description? A Field Surveyor is a professional responsible for conducting field surveys for various places or geographical conditions. He or she collects the required data and information as per the instructions given by senior officials. 

Orthotist and Prosthetist

Orthotists and Prosthetists are professionals who provide aid to patients with disabilities. They fix them to artificial limbs (prosthetics) and help them to regain stability. There are times when people lose their limbs in an accident. In some other occasions, they are born without a limb or orthopaedic impairment. Orthotists and prosthetists play a crucial role in their lives with fixing them to assistive devices and provide mobility.

Pathologist

A career in pathology in India is filled with several responsibilities as it is a medical branch and affects human lives. The demand for pathologists has been increasing over the past few years as people are getting more aware of different diseases. Not only that, but an increase in population and lifestyle changes have also contributed to the increase in a pathologist’s demand. The pathology careers provide an extremely huge number of opportunities and if you want to be a part of the medical field you can consider being a pathologist. If you want to know more about a career in pathology in India then continue reading this article.

Veterinary Doctor

Speech therapist, gynaecologist.

Gynaecology can be defined as the study of the female body. The job outlook for gynaecology is excellent since there is evergreen demand for one because of their responsibility of dealing with not only women’s health but also fertility and pregnancy issues. Although most women prefer to have a women obstetrician gynaecologist as their doctor, men also explore a career as a gynaecologist and there are ample amounts of male doctors in the field who are gynaecologists and aid women during delivery and childbirth. 

Audiologist

The audiologist career involves audiology professionals who are responsible to treat hearing loss and proactively preventing the relevant damage. Individuals who opt for a career as an audiologist use various testing strategies with the aim to determine if someone has a normal sensitivity to sounds or not. After the identification of hearing loss, a hearing doctor is required to determine which sections of the hearing are affected, to what extent they are affected, and where the wound causing the hearing loss is found. As soon as the hearing loss is identified, the patients are provided with recommendations for interventions and rehabilitation such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and appropriate medical referrals. While audiology is a branch of science that studies and researches hearing, balance, and related disorders.

An oncologist is a specialised doctor responsible for providing medical care to patients diagnosed with cancer. He or she uses several therapies to control the cancer and its effect on the human body such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy and biopsy. An oncologist designs a treatment plan based on a pathology report after diagnosing the type of cancer and where it is spreading inside the body.

Are you searching for an ‘Anatomist job description’? An Anatomist is a research professional who applies the laws of biological science to determine the ability of bodies of various living organisms including animals and humans to regenerate the damaged or destroyed organs. If you want to know what does an anatomist do, then read the entire article, where we will answer all your questions.

For an individual who opts for a career as an actor, the primary responsibility is to completely speak to the character he or she is playing and to persuade the crowd that the character is genuine by connecting with them and bringing them into the story. This applies to significant roles and littler parts, as all roles join to make an effective creation. Here in this article, we will discuss how to become an actor in India, actor exams, actor salary in India, and actor jobs. 

Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats create and direct original routines for themselves, in addition to developing interpretations of existing routines. The work of circus acrobats can be seen in a variety of performance settings, including circus, reality shows, sports events like the Olympics, movies and commercials. Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats must be prepared to face rejections and intermittent periods of work. The creativity of acrobats may extend to other aspects of the performance. For example, acrobats in the circus may work with gym trainers, celebrities or collaborate with other professionals to enhance such performance elements as costume and or maybe at the teaching end of the career.

Video Game Designer

Career as a video game designer is filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. A video game designer is someone who is involved in the process of creating a game from day one. He or she is responsible for fulfilling duties like designing the character of the game, the several levels involved, plot, art and similar other elements. Individuals who opt for a career as a video game designer may also write the codes for the game using different programming languages.

Depending on the video game designer job description and experience they may also have to lead a team and do the early testing of the game in order to suggest changes and find loopholes.

Radio Jockey

Radio Jockey is an exciting, promising career and a great challenge for music lovers. If you are really interested in a career as radio jockey, then it is very important for an RJ to have an automatic, fun, and friendly personality. If you want to get a job done in this field, a strong command of the language and a good voice are always good things. Apart from this, in order to be a good radio jockey, you will also listen to good radio jockeys so that you can understand their style and later make your own by practicing.

A career as radio jockey has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. If you want to know more about a career as radio jockey, and how to become a radio jockey then continue reading the article.

Choreographer

The word “choreography" actually comes from Greek words that mean “dance writing." Individuals who opt for a career as a choreographer create and direct original dances, in addition to developing interpretations of existing dances. A Choreographer dances and utilises his or her creativity in other aspects of dance performance. For example, he or she may work with the music director to select music or collaborate with other famous choreographers to enhance such performance elements as lighting, costume and set design.

Social Media Manager

A career as social media manager involves implementing the company’s or brand’s marketing plan across all social media channels. Social media managers help in building or improving a brand’s or a company’s website traffic, build brand awareness, create and implement marketing and brand strategy. Social media managers are key to important social communication as well.

Photographer

Photography is considered both a science and an art, an artistic means of expression in which the camera replaces the pen. In a career as a photographer, an individual is hired to capture the moments of public and private events, such as press conferences or weddings, or may also work inside a studio, where people go to get their picture clicked. Photography is divided into many streams each generating numerous career opportunities in photography. With the boom in advertising, media, and the fashion industry, photography has emerged as a lucrative and thrilling career option for many Indian youths.

An individual who is pursuing a career as a producer is responsible for managing the business aspects of production. They are involved in each aspect of production from its inception to deception. Famous movie producers review the script, recommend changes and visualise the story. 

They are responsible for overseeing the finance involved in the project and distributing the film for broadcasting on various platforms. A career as a producer is quite fulfilling as well as exhaustive in terms of playing different roles in order for a production to be successful. Famous movie producers are responsible for hiring creative and technical personnel on contract basis.

Copy Writer

In a career as a copywriter, one has to consult with the client and understand the brief well. A career as a copywriter has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. Several new mediums of advertising are opening therefore making it a lucrative career choice. Students can pursue various copywriter courses such as Journalism , Advertising , Marketing Management . Here, we have discussed how to become a freelance copywriter, copywriter career path, how to become a copywriter in India, and copywriting career outlook. 

In a career as a vlogger, one generally works for himself or herself. However, once an individual has gained viewership there are several brands and companies that approach them for paid collaboration. It is one of those fields where an individual can earn well while following his or her passion. 

Ever since internet costs got reduced the viewership for these types of content has increased on a large scale. Therefore, a career as a vlogger has a lot to offer. If you want to know more about the Vlogger eligibility, roles and responsibilities then continue reading the article. 

For publishing books, newspapers, magazines and digital material, editorial and commercial strategies are set by publishers. Individuals in publishing career paths make choices about the markets their businesses will reach and the type of content that their audience will be served. Individuals in book publisher careers collaborate with editorial staff, designers, authors, and freelance contributors who develop and manage the creation of content.

Careers in journalism are filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. One cannot afford to miss out on the details. As it is the small details that provide insights into a story. Depending on those insights a journalist goes about writing a news article. A journalism career can be stressful at times but if you are someone who is passionate about it then it is the right choice for you. If you want to know more about the media field and journalist career then continue reading this article.

Individuals in the editor career path is an unsung hero of the news industry who polishes the language of the news stories provided by stringers, reporters, copywriters and content writers and also news agencies. Individuals who opt for a career as an editor make it more persuasive, concise and clear for readers. In this article, we will discuss the details of the editor's career path such as how to become an editor in India, editor salary in India and editor skills and qualities.

Individuals who opt for a career as a reporter may often be at work on national holidays and festivities. He or she pitches various story ideas and covers news stories in risky situations. Students can pursue a BMC (Bachelor of Mass Communication) , B.M.M. (Bachelor of Mass Media) , or  MAJMC (MA in Journalism and Mass Communication) to become a reporter. While we sit at home reporters travel to locations to collect information that carries a news value.  

Corporate Executive

Are you searching for a Corporate Executive job description? A Corporate Executive role comes with administrative duties. He or she provides support to the leadership of the organisation. A Corporate Executive fulfils the business purpose and ensures its financial stability. In this article, we are going to discuss how to become corporate executive.

Multimedia Specialist

A multimedia specialist is a media professional who creates, audio, videos, graphic image files, computer animations for multimedia applications. He or she is responsible for planning, producing, and maintaining websites and applications. 

Quality Controller

A quality controller plays a crucial role in an organisation. He or she is responsible for performing quality checks on manufactured products. He or she identifies the defects in a product and rejects the product. 

A quality controller records detailed information about products with defects and sends it to the supervisor or plant manager to take necessary actions to improve the production process.

Production Manager

A QA Lead is in charge of the QA Team. The role of QA Lead comes with the responsibility of assessing services and products in order to determine that he or she meets the quality standards. He or she develops, implements and manages test plans. 

Process Development Engineer

The Process Development Engineers design, implement, manufacture, mine, and other production systems using technical knowledge and expertise in the industry. They use computer modeling software to test technologies and machinery. An individual who is opting career as Process Development Engineer is responsible for developing cost-effective and efficient processes. They also monitor the production process and ensure it functions smoothly and efficiently.

AWS Solution Architect

An AWS Solution Architect is someone who specializes in developing and implementing cloud computing systems. He or she has a good understanding of the various aspects of cloud computing and can confidently deploy and manage their systems. He or she troubleshoots the issues and evaluates the risk from the third party. 

Azure Administrator

An Azure Administrator is a professional responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining Azure Solutions. He or she manages cloud infrastructure service instances and various cloud servers as well as sets up public and private cloud systems. 

Computer Programmer

Careers in computer programming primarily refer to the systematic act of writing code and moreover include wider computer science areas. The word 'programmer' or 'coder' has entered into practice with the growing number of newly self-taught tech enthusiasts. Computer programming careers involve the use of designs created by software developers and engineers and transforming them into commands that can be implemented by computers. These commands result in regular usage of social media sites, word-processing applications and browsers.

Information Security Manager

Individuals in the information security manager career path involves in overseeing and controlling all aspects of computer security. The IT security manager job description includes planning and carrying out security measures to protect the business data and information from corruption, theft, unauthorised access, and deliberate attack 

ITSM Manager

Automation test engineer.

An Automation Test Engineer job involves executing automated test scripts. He or she identifies the project’s problems and troubleshoots them. The role involves documenting the defect using management tools. He or she works with the application team in order to resolve any issues arising during the testing process. 

Applications for Admissions are open.

Aakash iACST Scholarship Test 2024

Get up to 90% scholarship on NEET, JEE & Foundation courses

SAT® | CollegeBoard

Registeration closing on 19th Apr for SAT® | One Test-Many Universities | 90% discount on registrations fee | Free Practice | Multiple Attempts | no penalty for guessing

JEE Main Important Chemistry formulas

As per latest 2024 syllabus. Chemistry formulas, equations, & laws of class 11 & 12th chapters

TOEFL ® Registrations 2024

Thinking of Studying Abroad? Think the TOEFL® test. Register now & Save 10% on English Proficiency Tests with Gift Cards

Resonance Coaching

Enroll in Resonance Coaching for success in JEE/NEET exams

ALLEN JEE Exam Prep

Start your JEE preparation with ALLEN

Everything about Education

Latest updates, Exclusive Content, Webinars and more.

Download Careers360 App's

Regular exam updates, QnA, Predictors, College Applications & E-books now on your Mobile

Cetifications

We Appeared in

Essay on Cyber Crime | 500+ Words

Cybercrime is like a shadow lurking in the digital world, ready to harm us. In this essay, we will explore the world of cybercrime, its types, consequences, and how we can protect ourselves in the digital age.

Defining Cybercrime:

Cybercrime involves illegal activities conducted online. These crimes can harm individuals, organizations, and even entire nations.

The Digital Revolution

The rise of technology has brought convenience but also vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals exploit these vulnerabilities for personal gain.

Types of Cybercrime

Cybercrime takes many forms, including hacking, identity theft, online scams, and cyberbullying. Each poses unique risks and challenges.

Hacking and Data Breaches

Hackers gain unauthorized access to computer systems, stealing valuable data. These breaches can lead to financial loss and privacy violations.

Identity Theft

Identity theft involves stealing personal information for fraudulent purposes. Victims can face financial ruin and emotional distress.

Online Scams

Scammers trick people into giving away money or personal information. Awareness and skepticism are key defenses against these scams.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying involves using the internet to harass or harm others. It can have devastating effects on mental and emotional well-being.

The Impact of Cybercrime

Cybercrime has far-reaching consequences, affecting individuals, businesses, and governments. It erodes trust and security in the digital world.

Financial Loss

Victims of cybercrime often suffer financial losses. Recovering stolen funds can be challenging, and the impact can be long-lasting.

Emotional Toll

The emotional toll of cybercrime can be severe. Victims may experience fear, anxiety, and a loss of trust in online interactions.

Expert Opinions on Cybercrime

Experts in cybersecurity emphasize the importance of vigilance, education, and strong security measures in protecting against cyber threats.

Cybersecurity Measures

Protecting against cybercrime requires cybersecurity measures like strong passwords, antivirus software, and regular software updates.

The Role of Education

Education about online safety is vital. Schools and organizations should teach digital literacy and cybersecurity from an early age.

Online Privacy

Protecting online privacy means being cautious about sharing personal information and understanding the importance of data protection laws.

Reporting Cybercrime

Reporting cybercrime to law enforcement is crucial. It helps track down cybercriminals and prevent further harm.

International Cooperation

Cybercrime is a global issue. International cooperation and laws are essential to combating it effectively.

The Future of Cybersecurity

As technology evolves, so do cyber threats. Ongoing research and innovation in cybersecurity are essential to staying ahead of cybercriminals.

Conclusion of Essay on Cyber Crime

In conclusion, cybercrime is a digital menace that affects us all. Whether it’s hacking, scams, or cyberbullying, the consequences can be devastating. However, we can protect ourselves by staying informed, practicing good cybersecurity habits, and reporting cybercrime when it occurs.

The digital age has brought us incredible opportunities, but it has also brought risks. It is our responsibility to navigate this digital world with caution and vigilance. By doing so, we can reduce the impact of cybercrime and make the internet a safer place for everyone. Cybersecurity is not just a personal responsibility; it’s a collective effort to keep our digital world secure and trustworthy.

Also Check: The Essay on Essay: All you need to know

Presentations made painless

• Get Premium

117 CyberCrime Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

117 Cybercrime Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

In today's digitally interconnected world, cybercrime has become a significant concern for individuals, businesses, and governments alike. The ever-evolving nature of cyber threats poses challenges to law enforcement agencies and cybersecurity professionals. If you are tasked with writing an essay on cybercrime, but struggling to come up with a topic, fret not! Here, we present 117 cybercrime essay topic ideas and examples to help inspire your writing.

• The rise of ransomware attacks: Causes, consequences, and preventive measures.
• Cyberbullying: Analyzing its psychological impact on victims and strategies for prevention.
• Social engineering attacks: Understanding the methods and mitigating the risks.
• The role of international cooperation in combating cybercrime.
• The dark web: A haven for illegal activities.
• Cyber warfare: Assessing the implications and international norms.
• Online identity theft: Examining the financial and emotional consequences.
• The use of artificial intelligence in cybercrime prevention.
• Cyber espionage: Analyzing state-sponsored attacks and their impact on national security.
• The role of cryptocurrencies in facilitating cybercrime.
• Cyberstalking: Legal challenges and protective measures.
• The impact of cybercrime on small businesses.
• The ethics of hacking: White hat versus black hat.
• Cyberterrorism: Assessing the risks and counterterrorism strategies.
• The role of legislation in combating cybercrime.
• The psychological profile of cybercriminals: Identifying common characteristics.
• The influence of cybercrime on financial markets and economies.
• Cyber fraud: Analyzing different types and methods.
• The impact of cybercrime on critical infrastructure.
• Cybersecurity awareness: Strategies for educating individuals and organizations.
• The role of social media in facilitating cybercrime.
• Cyberbullying among teenagers: Causes, consequences, and preventive measures.
• The future of cybersecurity: Anticipating emerging threats.
• The impact of cybercrime on healthcare organizations.
• The role of machine learning in detecting and preventing cyber threats.
• Cyberattacks on the electoral process: Safeguarding democratic systems.
• The legal challenges of prosecuting cybercriminals.
• The role of international organizations in addressing cybercrime.
• Cyber insurance: Analyzing its effectiveness in mitigating financial losses.
• The impact of cybercrime on intellectual property theft.
• The vulnerabilities of IoT devices: Securing the interconnected world.
• The role of education in raising cybercrime awareness.
• The impact of cybercrime on national security.
• The role of cloud computing in enhancing cybersecurity.
• Cyberbullying in the workplace: Addressing its prevalence and impact.
• The psychology behind cybercriminals: Understanding their motivations.
• The impact of cybercrime on e-commerce and online transactions.
• Cybersecurity regulations: Balancing privacy and protection.
• The influence of state-sponsored hacking on international relations.
• The role of cybersecurity certifications in professional development.
• Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure: Analyzing vulnerabilities and protective measures.
• The impact of cybercrime on human rights and privacy.
• Cyber espionage: The blurred lines between nation-states and cybercriminals.
• The role of artificial intelligence in cyber defense.
• The psychology of phishing attacks: How do they manipulate human behavior?
• The impact of cybercrime on the banking sector.
• The role of information sharing in combating cyber threats.
• The rise of cybercrime during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The legal challenges of extraditing cybercriminals across borders.
• The impact of cybercrime on children and adolescents.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting personal data.
• Cyberattacks on the transportation industry: Analyzing risks and vulnerabilities.
• The impact of cybercrime on trust in digital systems.
• Cyber insurance: Its role in incentivizing cybersecurity investments.
• The ethical considerations of hacking for a cause: Hacktivism.
• The impact of cybercrime on national economies.
• Cybersecurity in the age of artificial intelligence: Challenges and opportunities.
• The role of open-source intelligence in investigating cybercrimes.
• Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure: Learning from historical incidents.
• The impact of cybercrime on the reputation of organizations.
• The psychology of online scams: Understanding victims' susceptibility.
• The vulnerabilities of smart cities: Securing the urban future.
• The impact of cybercrime on human trafficking and exploitation.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting intellectual property.
• Cyber espionage: Analyzing the tactics and techniques of nation-state actors.
• The impact of cybercrime on the tourism industry.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting elections and democratic processes.
• Cybersecurity in the era of quantum computing: Preparing for the future.
• The impact of cybercrime on the entertainment industry.
• The psychology of online radicalization: Analyzing the role of the internet.
• The vulnerabilities of supply chain networks: Safeguarding global trade.
• The impact of cybercrime on national healthcare systems.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting critical research and development.
• Cyber insurance: Challenges and opportunities for insurance providers.
• The dark side of social media: Cyberbullying and harassment.
• The impact of cybercrime on the aviation industry.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting autonomous vehicles.
• Cyber espionage: Analyzing the economic and political motivations behind attacks.
• The impact of cybercrime on the gaming industry.
• The vulnerabilities of smart home devices: Protecting personal privacy.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting intellectual property in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Cyberattacks on the energy sector: Analyzing the risks and protective measures.
• The impact of cybercrime on the media and journalism.
• The psychology of online grooming: Protecting vulnerable individuals.
• The vulnerabilities of e-voting systems: Safeguarding democratic processes.
• The impact of cybercrime on the retail industry.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting autonomous drones.
• Cyber espionage: Analyzing the impact on technological advancements.
• The impact of cybercrime on the music industry.
• The vulnerabilities of smart grid systems: Securing the future of energy.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting intellectual property in the film industry.
• Cyberattacks on the water supply: Analyzing the risks and protective measures.
• The impact of cybercrime on the sports industry.
• The psychology of online addiction: Analyzing the impact on mental health.
• The vulnerabilities of smart transportation systems: Ensuring passenger safety.
• The impact of cybercrime on the fashion industry.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting smart city infrastructure.
• Cyber espionage: Analyzing the impact on scientific advancements.
• The impact of cybercrime on the food and beverage industry.
• The vulnerabilities of wearable technology: Protecting personal health data.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting intellectual property in the automotive industry.
• Cyberattacks on the telecommunications sector: Analyzing the risks and protective measures.
• The impact of cybercrime on the art and design industry.
• The psychology of online gaming addiction: Analyzing its effects on players.
• The vulnerabilities of smart healthcare systems: Protecting patient data.
• The impact of cybercrime on the hospitality industry.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting smart home infrastructure.
• Cyber espionage: Analyzing the impact on military capabilities.
• The impact of cybercrime on the beauty and cosmetics industry.
• The vulnerabilities of augmented reality technology: Protecting user privacy.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting intellectual property in the aerospace industry.
• Cyberattacks on the financial sector: Analyzing the risks and protective measures.
• The impact of cybercrime on the real estate industry.
• The psychology of online shopping addiction: Analyzing consumer behavior.
• The vulnerabilities of blockchain technology: Ensuring secure transactions.
• The impact of cybercrime on the agricultural industry.
• The role of cybersecurity in protecting smart grid infrastructure.

These 117 cybercrime essay topic ideas and examples should provide ample inspiration for your writing. Whether you choose to focus on the psychological aspects, the technical challenges, or the societal impacts of cybercrime, remember to approach the topic with a critical mindset and back your arguments with reliable sources. Good luck with your essay!

Want to create a presentation now?

Instantly Create A Deck

Let PitchGrade do this for me

Hassle Free

We will create your text and designs for you. Sit back and relax while we do the work.

Explore More Content

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service

© 2023 Pitchgrade

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

UPSC Coaching, Study Materials, and Mock Exams

Enroll in ClearIAS UPSC Coaching Join Now Log In

Call us: +91-9605741000

Cybercrime – Definition, Types, and Reporting

Last updated on March 11, 2024 by Alex Andrews George

Computers, mobile phones, and the internet have changed modern life. They provide us with many benefits.

However,  information technology also makes us vulnerable to a wide range of threats. These threats may result in financial loss or damage to our reputation.

A minor lapse in managing our digital lives can open the door to cybercriminals. So it is extremely important to know how to prevent us from cybercrimes.

Table of Contents

What is cybercrime?

A Cybercrime is a crime involving computers and networks.

The computer may have been used in the execution of a crime or it may be the target.

Definition of Cyber Crime

Cybercrime may be defined as “Any unlawful act where computer or communication device or computer network is used to commit or facilitate the commission of a crime”.

Two Main Types of Cybercrimes

Most cybercrime falls under two main categories:

• Criminal activity that  targets computers.
• Criminal activity that  uses computers.

Cybercrime that  targets computers often involves malware like viruses.

Cybercrime that  uses computers to commit other crimes may involve using computers to spread malware, illegal information or illegal images.

List of Cybercrimes: Examples

Cybercrimes include monetary crimes as well as non-monetary offences. The crimes result in damage to persons, computers, or governments.

Join Now: CSAT Course

1. Child Pornography OR Child sexually abusive material (CSAM)

Child sexually abusive material (CSAM) refers to a material containing sexual images in any form, of a child who is abused or sexually exploited. Section 67 (B) of the IT Act states that “it is punishable for publishing or transmitting of material depicting children in the sexually explicit act, etc. in electronic form.

2. Cyber Bullying

A form of harassment or bullying inflicted through the use of electronic or communication devices such as computers, mobile phones, laptops, etc.

3. Cyber Stalking

Cyberstalking is the use of electronic communication by a person to follow a person, or attempts to contact a person to foster personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest by such person; or monitors the internet, email or any other form of electronic communication commits the offence of stalking.

4. Cyber Grooming

Cyber Grooming is when a person builds an online relationship with a young person and tricks or pressures him/ her into doing a sexual act.

5. Online Job Fraud

Online Job Fraud is an attempt to defraud people who are in need of employment by giving them false hope/ promise of better employment with higher wages.

6. Online Sextortion

Online Sextortion occurs when someone threatens to distribute private and sensitive material using an electronic medium if he/ she doesn’t provide images of a sexual nature, sexual favours, or money.

7. Phishing

Phishing is a type of fraud that involves stealing personal information such as Customer ID, IPIN, Credit/Debit Card number, Card expiry date, CVV number, etc. through emails that appear to be from a legitimate source.

Vishing is an attempt where fraudsters try to seek personal information like Customer ID, Net Banking password, ATM PIN, OTP, Card expiry date, CVV etc. through a phone call.

9. Smishing

Smishing is a type of fraud that uses mobile phone text messages to lure victims into calling back on a fraudulent phone number, visiting fraudulent websites or downloading malicious content via phone or web.

10. Sexting

Sexting is an act of sending sexually explicit digital images, videos, text messages, or emails, usually by cell phone.

11. SIM Swap Scam

SIM Swap Scam occurs when fraudsters manage to get a new SIM card issued against a registered mobile number fraudulently through the mobile service provider. With the help of this new SIM card, they get One Time Password (OTP) and alerts, required for making financial transactions through the victim’s bank account. Getting a new SIM card against a registered mobile number fraudulently is known as SIM Swap.

12. Credit Card Fraud or Debit Card Fraud

Credit card (or debit card) fraud involves the unauthorized use of another’s credit or debit card information for the purpose of purchases or withdrawing funds from it.

13. Impersonation and identity theft

Impersonation and identity theft is an act of fraudulently or dishonestly making use of the electronic signature, password or any other unique identification feature of any other person.

14. Spamming

Spamming occurs when someone receives an unsolicited commercial message sent via email, SMS, MMS and any other similar electronic messaging media. They may try to persuade the recipient to buy a product or service, or visit a website where he can make purchases, or they may attempt to trick him/ her into divulging bank account or credit card details.

15. Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of computer malware that encrypts the files, storage media on communication devices like desktops, Laptops, Mobile phones etc., holding data/information as a hostage. The victim is asked to pay the demanded ransom to get his device decrypts

16. Viruses, Worms, and Trojans

A computer virus is a program written to enter your computer and damage/alter your files/data and replicate itself.

Worms are malicious programs that make copies of themselves again and again on the local drive, network shares, etc.

A Trojan horse is not a virus. It is a destructive program that looks like a genuine application. Unlike viruses, Trojan horses do not replicate themselves but they can be just as destructive. Trojans open a backdoor entry to your computer which gives malicious users/programs access to your system, allowing confidential and personal information to be theft.

17. Data Breach

A data breach is an incident in which information is accessed without authorization.

18. Denial of Services (DoS) attack

A denial of Services (DoS) attack is an attack intended for denying access to computer resources without the permission of the owner or any other person who is in charge of a computer, computer system or computer network.

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is an attempt to make an online service unavailable by overwhelming it with traffic from multiple sources.

19. Website Defacement

Website Defacement is an attack intended to change the visual appearance of a website and/ or make it dysfunctional. The attacker may post indecent, hostile and obscene images, messages, videos, etc.

20. Cyber-Squatting

Cyber-Squatting is an act of registering, trafficking in or using a domain name with an intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else.

21. Pharming

Pharming is a cyber-attack aiming to redirect a website’s traffic to another, bogus website.

22. Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking is the unauthorized use of computing resources to mine cryptocurrencies.

23. Online Drug Trafficking

Online Drug Trafficking is a crime of selling, transporting, or illegally importing unlawful controlled substances, such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana, or other illegal drugs using electronic means.

24. Espionage

Espionage is the act or practice of obtaining data and information without the permission and knowledge of the owner.

How to file a Cybercrime complaint online in India?

A cybercrime complaint can be filed using the National Crime Reporting Portal of India .

Website link is – https://cybercrime.gov.in/

National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal of India

This portal is an initiative of the Government of India to facilitate victims/ complainants to report cybercrime complaints online.

This portal caters for all types of cybercrime complaints including complaints pertaining to

• online Child Pornography (CP),
• Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM),
• sexually explicit content such as Rape/Gang Rape (CP/RGR) content and
• other cybercrimes such as mobile crimes, online and social media crimes, online financial frauds, ransomware, hacking, cryptocurrency crimes and online cyber trafficking.

The portal also provides an option of reporting an anonymous complaint about reporting online Child Pornography (CP) or sexually explicit content such as Rape/Gang Rape (RGR) content.

Cybercrime Helpline Number

The Cyber Crime Helpline Number is 155260.

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN or ICERT)

The  Indian Computer Emergency Response Team  ( CERT-IN  or  ICERT ) is an office within the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Government of India.

CERT-In is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur. CERT-In is operational since January 2004.

CERT-In has been designated to serve as the national agency to perform the following functions in the area of cyber security:

• Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber incidents.
• Forecast and alerts of cyber security incidents.
• Emergency measures for handling cyber security incidents.
• Coordination of cyber incident response activities.
• Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes and whitepapers relating to information security practices, procedures, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents.
• Such other functions relating to cyber security may be prescribed.

CERT-IN has overlapping responsibilities with other agencies such as National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) .

Cyber Laws in India

Information Technology Act 2000 (IT Act 2000) is the main law connected with cyber security in India.

Indian Penal Code, 1860 is also used to book criminals connected with cybercrimes.

India also has a cyber security policy .

Read: eSIM: All you need to know

Take a Test: Analyse Your Progress

Aim IAS, IPS, or IFS?

About Alex Andrews George

Alex Andrews George is a mentor, author, and social entrepreneur. Alex is the founder of ClearIAS and one of the expert Civil Service Exam Trainers in India.

He is the author of many best-seller books like 'Important Judgments that transformed India' and 'Important Acts that transformed India'.

A trusted mentor and pioneer in online training , Alex's guidance, strategies, study-materials, and mock-exams have helped many aspirants to become IAS, IPS, and IFS officers.

Reader Interactions

December 4, 2021 at 12:15 pm

How can one enroll for the mains course

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Don’t lose out without playing the right game!

Follow the ClearIAS Prelims cum Mains (PCM) Integrated Approach.

Join ClearIAS PCM Course Now

UPSC Online Preparation

• Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Indian Police Service (IPS)
• IAS Exam Eligibility
• UPSC Free Study Materials
• UPSC Exam Guidance
• UPSC Prelims Test Series
• UPSC Syllabus
• UPSC Online
• UPSC Prelims
• UPSC Interview
• UPSC Toppers
• UPSC Previous Year Qns
• UPSC Age Calculator
• UPSC Calendar 2024
• About ClearIAS
• ClearIAS Programs
• ClearIAS Fee Structure
• IAS Coaching
• UPSC Coaching
• UPSC Online Coaching
• ClearIAS Blog
• Important Updates
• Announcements
• Book Review
• ClearIAS App
• Work with us
• Advertise with us
• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions
• Talk to Your Mentor

Featured on

and many more...

Essay on Cybercrime for Students & Children in 1000 Words

In this article you will read an Essay on Cybercrime in English 1000 words for students and children. It includes its meaning, types, causes and prevention tips.

Table of Contents

The malicious activity of Cybercrime was first reported in 1970 when new computerized phones were being targeted. Tech-savvy people found ways to play long-distance calls through a series of codes. 

hey were the first to exploit the system by modifying both software and hardware to steal long-distance phone time.

It was the instance that made people understand that computer systems are more vulnerable to criminal activity, and the more complex the system became, it became more susceptible to Cybercrime.

What is Cybercrime? 

Cybercrime is a crime that is conducted involving computers and networks. The computer might be the tool used to commit the crime or the intended target on which the crime has been committed. 

Cybercrime may be a crime to intentionally harm the reputation of an individual in the digital world, which might cause virtual, physical, and mental harm to the individual. 

It also threatens a person’s and nation’s security and financial health. Issues like hacking, copyright infringement, unwarranted mass surveillance are the significant and high prolific crimes that are committed. 

Computers can be used as both tools and targets depending on the type of hacker utilizing the equipment. These crimes involve less technical expertise and typically exploit human weakness.  

Just like individuals walking around leaves marks, a skilled tracker can follow. Cyber criminals leave identities and locations even though they provide the best efforts to track their tracks. 

To develop the clues, international treaties are ratified between the countries so that they can follow the concern of hackers committing crimes and frauds.   

Types of Cybercrime 

1. identity theft.

In this sort of Cybercrime, criminals access the profile of the user and use their personal information to steal funds or commit fraud based on the user. 

The criminal can also generate your digital account and utilize the same to commit fraud and even claim benefits from the various government schemes in your name. 

The criminal uses the password obtained from hacking the victim’s personal information from social media or by sending phishing emails. 

2. Cyberstalking

This Cybercrime involves online harassment where the victim is subjected to a plethora of online messages and emails. 

Typically, the stalker uses social media , websites, and search engines to intimate the victim and instils fear. The stalker knows the victim and makes the person feel afraid and concerned for their safety.  

3. Cyberextortion

This kind of crime also occurs when the website, email server is threatened with repeated denial of service or attacks by hackers. The hackers demand money in return for a promise to stop attacking and provide protection.  

By the latest reports, Cybercrime extortion is increasingly attacking the corporate website and their networks, crippling their capability to operate and demanding payments to restore their service. 

At least 20-30 cases are reported each month regarding extortion and are not even reported to Cybercrime cells. 

4. Cyberwarfare

The department of the US Army has noted the increase of cyber warfare in recent times due to constant change in the geostrategic significance. 

It is one of the fronts that the defence body of every country is focused on to thwart hackers from attacking the computer networks of their country.  

Further, all the essential utilities of a country, including the defence systems, are monitored controlled through computers and networks with little human intervention. 

The criminals are continually finding ways to penetrate the network systems so that they can extort money from the government of the countries. The Defence bodies of the states are always trying to be ten steps ahead of the criminal hackers to defend their homelands.  

5. Financial Frauds and Crime

Computer frauds are where there is a misrepresentation of facts intended to cause harm to an individual or an organization. The evasion will result in altering the data in unauthorized ways like entering the false data or by entering illegal instruction or processes. 

Modifying or deleting the stored data. Other frauds may include bank fraud or theft of classified information. These types of crimes lead to the loss of confidential information or financial information.  

Through the automated teller machine (ATM), many people get cash nowadays by using cards and typing personal identification numbers (PINs). 

Criminals have developed ways to intercept both data in the magnetic stripe on the cards and the PIN to create fake cards and withdraw cash from the ATM.  

6. Drug trafficking through darknets

Drug traffickers are always finding ways to sell their products & find new customers for their products. 

In this modern age of time, Darknet is one of the places in the digital world where criminals are selling their products to the customers without even coming into physical contact with them. 

7. Social Engineering

It is the kind of crime in which the criminals make direct contact with the victim, usually through phone or email. 

They try to gain the confidence of the victim by posing as customer service agents so that the victim gives away the required information willingly. Usually, the data is like a password; the company, the victim, works for or has bank information.  

Cybercriminals will try to find out as much information through social networking and try to add you as your friend on social accounts. Once they gain entry to your accounts, they can sell your information or secure the report in your name. 

Potentially Unwanted Programs known as PUPs are less threatening than other cyber-crimes but are a type of malware. The purpose of these programs is to uninstall necessary software from your system, including search engines and pre-downloaded apps. 

They can include spyware or adware; it is, therefore, an excellent idea to install antivirus software to avoid malicious downloads. 

9. Phishing 

Phishing is the type of attack that involves hackers sending a malicious attachment along with email or the URLs to the users to gain access to their computers and accounts. 

Cybercriminals are becoming more established; these mails are also not flagged as spam. Sometimes the users are tricked into emails claiming they must change the password or update their billing information, giving the hacker access. 

10. Illegal Contents: 

Cybercrime also involves hackers sharing inappropriate content that can be considered highly offensive and distressing. Offensive content can include criminal activities, intense violence, and sexual activity between two adults. 

Illegal contents also include the radicalizing of the youths and leading them to commit terror-related activities. These types of materials are available on both the everyday internet and anonymous dark web. 

Crime and Cybercrime have increasingly become significant problems for society. Both in the public webspace and dark web space, cybercriminals are highly skilled and are not easy to find. 

Cybercrime has generated a foremost threat to those who use the internet with loads of information stolen by hackers and causing a dent in the economy. 

Causes of Cybercrime

As I have mentioned above Cybercrime is of several types so using the internet without knowing the proper security information is not good.

Below we have given a few major causes of Cybercrime:

1. Lack of knowledge

Today internet is one of the most important places to get information about everything. You will get every information on any topic when you search on internet.  

But using it without knowledge is dangerous which is one of the major causes of Cybercrime.  Most of the peoples only get hacked only because of lack of knowledge. 

So, before entering to the cyber world you must have the knowledge of above given types of Cybercrimes.

2. Using internet without limitations

Using internet is very easy but using without any limitation is one of the major causes of Cybercrimes. You must have some limits to share your data on internet.

If you use social media you must set up your privacy settings properly. Sharing All of your personal data on internet without any limitation cause data hacks and Cybercrimes.

Not only this Childrens are more susceptible to cybercrime now a days because they are now sticking with their mobile phones and laptops most of the time. this issue started after the rise of online education all over the world.

Few parents are aware of this type of issue and they always limit their kid’s device usage. 

Sharing your card and bank details on internet for any type of fake offer another cause of Cybercrime. In short words you must have to create few limitations during using your device network on internet.

3. Using Cracked software

Most people use cracked software and applications in their devices. It is another major cause of Cybercrime.

Hacker’s crack software’s and put malware inside it. So, when users install it in their PC and mobile the hacker gets into their device and easily steals their passwords, Wi-Fi details, and important data.

4. Storing of data in small space 

Still in this digital world people are keeping their important documents and data in small space of their PC and mobile phone. This is causing the ultimate cybercrime.

Always try to keep your private and important data in secure cloud folder or cloud data base with 2FA and OTP verification enabled.

How to prevent cybercrime?

In this modern-day age of technology, hackers are taking over our systems, and no one is safe. The crime is also not easily detectable, but there are ways to protect yourself from these crimes like educating yourself and your colleagues and taking preventive measures.  

There are few simple steps to protect yourself from Cybercrime. Let’s go through those points:

1. Use a premium security service in your device

Must use a premium security app in your electronic device which will secure your files and scan your network. Also, most of the security software’s secure your data from ransomware attacks.

2. Use password protection apps and plugins

If someone hacks your Google password, he will easily get all the credential saved on Chrome browser. So nowadays it is better to install an extra Password Manager with Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). 

Most of the password managers are available for both PC and Smartphones . So, it will be easy for you to synchronize your passwords on both of your devices. Most of the cybercrime today is happening only because of password hack.

3. Keep your device and OS software updates

Updating your device regularly is the most important thing in device security, it avoids new Malware and cybercrime. So always update as soon as possible when you get a new security patch notification on your device.

4. Properly set up your social media privacy settings

Now a days most of the people use social media but using it properly is most important. Most of the hackers stole personal information from social media accounts.

Correctly editing your privacy settings in social media keeps your profile secure and visible to your near and dear ones only. Opening it to everyone may lead to account hacking or stealing of important personal details.

5. Use a strong password in your network devices

Using an automatic password generation tool or extension in your device provides you with a better strong password. Not only this, try to change your wireless network passwords every month if possible.

6. Always use child mode when kids are using devices

Children in everyone’s house use their parent’s laptop and smartphone but nobody keeps limitations during their usage. Kids are not aware of any type of Cybercrime so they may make mistakes which may cause personal and important data hacks.

Most of the Smartphones and computers are now coming with a child mode option. Always ON that option when your child is using your phone.

7. Use a reliable VPN to secure your identity

If you are worried about your personal data hack using a VPN in your device solves this problem. When the VPN is active nobody will track you and know your location.

Accessing your accounts became hard to hack by hackers. Using a VPN stops most of the cybercrime happening nowadays.

8. Stay updated about the latest security breaches

Every OS and device company provides regular updates to their users. The main reason for it is the latest security patches keep the devices secure from new vulnerabilities. So, always update your device software as soon as you get. 

9. Keep knowledge of what to do when you’re hacked?

Hackers are very clever so maybe after doing all the above precautions you may get hacked. After gone hand everybody gets worried about their important files and data.

Every country has different departments and laws for dealing with cybercrimes. You must know what to do when you are hacked. In India there is a National Cybercrime Reporting Portal where you can report your issue.

Cybercrime is one of the major security concerns for all of us. We need to use our online work using with secure connection and database.

Also, you should aware of different types of cyber hacks happening now a days. You can also go through various Cybercrime prevention steps to avoid any cyberattack.

Following all the step keeps you away from cyber hack and secure you from fraud. I hope this Essay on Cybercrime helped you to understand all about it in short.

1 thought on “Essay on Cybercrime for Students & Children in 1000 Words”

This essay helps me a lot in my project. It is in simple language and in understable type. It helps me in my exam also. Thank you so much for this essay

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Essay on Cyber Crime

In the digital age, the rapid advancement of technology has reshaped the way we live, work, and interact. However, alongside the countless benefits, this evolution has given rise to a darker phenomenon known as cyber crime. Cyber crime encompasses a wide range of malicious activities carried out through digital means, affecting individuals, organizations, and even nations. This essay delves into the intricacies of cyber crime, exploring its types, causes, impacts, and measures to combat it, offering a comprehensive overview for students participating in essay writing competitions.

Cyber Crime

Cyber crime refers to any criminal activity that involves a computer, networked device, or a network. While most cyber crimes are carried out to generate profit for the criminals, some are done to harm or intimidate individuals, governments, or entire societies. The anonymity, vast reach, and speed of the internet have made cyber crime a highly effective and dangerous tool in the hands of criminals.

Types of Cyber Crime

Cyber crime can be broadly categorized into three types: crimes against individuals, crimes against property, and crimes against governments or society at large.

• Phishing: Phishing involves sending fraudulent emails or messages that appear to be from legitimate sources to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal details.
• Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files or data, rendering them inaccessible. The attacker demands a ransom payment from the victim to provide the decryption key.
• Malware: Malware (malicious software) includes viruses, Trojans, worms, and spyware designed to infect and compromise computer systems, steal data, or disrupt operations.
• Identity Theft: Cybercriminals steal personal information, such as Social Security numbers or financial data, to impersonate victims for financial gain, fraudulent activities, or accessing accounts.
• Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying involves using digital platforms, such as social media or messaging apps, to harass, threaten, or intimidate individuals, often leading to emotional and psychological distress.
• Online Scams: Various online scams deceive individuals into parting with their money, including advance-fee fraud, lottery scams, and romance scams. These scams exploit trust and gullibility.
• Data Breaches: Data breaches occur when cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to databases or systems, exposing sensitive information, such as customer data, financial records, or trade secrets.
• Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks: These attacks overwhelm a target system, website, or network with excessive traffic, rendering it unavailable to legitimate users.
• Cyber Espionage: State-sponsored or corporate espionage involves infiltrating computer systems to steal sensitive information, trade secrets, or government intelligence.
• Child Exploitation: Child exploitation includes online activities like child pornography, grooming, or sextortion, targeting minors and causing severe harm to victims.
• Hacking and Unauthorized Access: Unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, or accounts for the purpose of data theft, vandalism, or disruption is considered hacking.
• Financial Cybercrimes: Financial cybercrimes involve fraud, embezzlement, or theft of funds through various digital means, such as credit card fraud, online banking fraud, or investment scams.
• Online Harassment and Stalking: Cybercriminals engage in online harassment, stalking, or doxxing (publishing private information) to harass and intimidate victims.
• Social Engineering: Social engineering techniques manipulate individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security, often through impersonation or pretexting.
• Botnets and Cyber Attacks: Cybercriminals create botnets, networks of compromised devices, to launch coordinated cyberattacks, such as spam distribution, information theft, or credential stuffing attacks.
• Cryptojacking: Cryptojacking involves using a victim’s computer or device to mine cryptocurrencies without their consent or knowledge, causing system slowdowns and increased energy consumption.
• Online Copyright Infringement: Copyright infringement on the internet involves illegally sharing or distributing copyrighted content, such as movies, music, or software, without authorization.
• Deepfake and Manipulated Media: Deepfake technology creates convincing but fabricated a, video, or text content, leading to misinformation, impersonation, and reputational harm.

Causes of Cyber Crime

Several factors contribute to the prevalence of cyber crime, including:

• Anonymity: The internet provides a level of anonymity that emboldens criminals, making it challenging to trace illegal activities back to the perpetrators.
• Global Reach: Cyber criminals can operate from any location, targeting victims worldwide without ever crossing physical borders.
• Technological Complexity: The complexity and rapid evolution of technology can outpace security measures, leaving vulnerabilities that can be exploited.
• Lack of Awareness: Many users are unaware of the risks associated with their online activities, making them easy targets for cyber criminals.

Impacts of Cyber Crime

The effects of cyber crime are vast and varied, affecting individuals, organizations, and nations.

• Financial Loss: Cyber crime costs the global economy billions of dollars annually through fraud, theft of intellectual property, and other financial crimes.
• Psychological Impact: Victims of cyber crime, such as cyberbullying or identity theft, can experience significant emotional distress.
• Reputation Damage: Businesses and governments can suffer reputational damage due to data breaches, undermining public trust.
• National Security Threats: Cyber attacks on critical infrastructure can pose significant threats to national security, potentially leading to chaos and crisis.

Combating Cyber Crime

Addressing the challenge of cyber crime requires a multi-faceted approach, involving individuals, businesses, governments, and international bodies.

• Legislation: Implementing comprehensive cyber crime laws and regulations is crucial to defining and deterring illegal online activities.
• Cybersecurity Measures: Individuals and organizations must adopt robust cybersecurity practices, including the use of firewalls, antivirus software, and strong passwords.
• Education and Awareness: Raising awareness about the risks of cyber crime and promoting safe online behaviors can significantly reduce vulnerability.
• International Cooperation: Cyber crime is a global issue that necessitates international collaboration to develop strategies for prevention, investigation, and prosecution.

Future Directions

As technology continues to evolve, so too will the nature of cyber crime. The rise of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and other emerging technologies will introduce new vulnerabilities and challenges. Future efforts to combat cyber crime must focus on advancing cybersecurity technologies, enhancing international legal frameworks, and fostering a culture of security awareness among all internet users.

In conclusion, Cyber crime is a pervasive issue that poses significant challenges to the security, privacy, and well-being of individuals and societies worldwide. Understanding the complexities of cyber crime is the first step toward developing effective strategies to combat it. By fostering collaboration among various stakeholders and embracing a proactive approach to cybersecurity, we can hope to mitigate the risks associated with our increasingly connected world. For students aspiring to make a difference, participating in essay writing competitions on topics such as cyber crime not only raises awareness but also encourages the development of innovative solutions to safeguard our digital future.

Essay Generator

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Generate an essay on the importance of extracurricular activities for student development

Write an essay discussing the role of technology in modern education.

Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Cyber Crimes — Review of Types and Categories of Cyber Crimes

Review of Types and Categories of Cyber Crimes

• Categories: Cyber Crimes

About this sample

Words: 1498 |

Published: Sep 12, 2018

Words: 1498 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

Table of contents

Table of contents, types of cybercrime.

• Introduction
• Types Of Cybercrime Financial Piracy Hacking Cyber-Terrorism Pornography In Schools Affects To Whom Need of Cyber Law Introduction As the analysis reaches deeper behind the recent Paris attacks, it has become clear that terrorism today is a widening series of global alliances often assisted and connected via cyber social media, and electronic propaganda.

Cyber-Terrorism

Online pornography.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

• Expert in: Law, Crime & Punishment

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1528 words

6 pages / 2847 words

5 pages / 2098 words

4 pages / 1788 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Cyber Crimes

Lee, S. (2017). Encrypted Messaging: Keeping Your Conversations Secure. Security Boulevard.Smirnoff, V., & Turner, S. (2019). Symmetric Encryption: Definition, Types, and Examples. SecurityTrails.Almeida, R. (2019). Asymmetric [...]

In our increasingly interconnected world, where technology is deeply woven into the fabric of our daily lives, the specter of computer threats looms large. From malware attacks to hacking and data breaches, the digital landscape [...]

Cybersecurity has become a very familiar term that has drawn increasing awareness of the danger of leaving cybercrimes unpunished. Because the world is moving more toward online trading and e-commerce, and basically living [...]

Internet has revolutionized this generation completely, from sharing information, images, communicating through messages, studying , sending emails and shopping online; it has become an integral part of life. Internet is used [...]

The research study provides a review and analysis about the various kinds of cyber crimes that are committed by the perpetrators who are always in search of vulnerable people who could be victimized. Women are said to be [...]

In today's society, driving while under the influence of alcohol has become a very deadly crime. The deaths would be preventable if we had more severe laws against this issue. 1 person every 51 minutes dies as a result of an [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Cyber Crime Essay

In this Cyber Crime Essay , we had discussed the classification of cybercrimes, how to prevent cybercrime & much more.

Cybercrime is a type of crime in which computer crime (hacking, spamming, etc.) is used as a tool to commit any crime.

Cybercriminals use computer and Internet technology to access personal information, trade secrets, etc.

In this article  Essay on Cyber Crime , we had provided the essays in different word limits, which you can use as per your need:

Essay on Cyber Crime 150 words:

Most cybercrime is usually done for money today, but some people are trying to steal someone’s data, harm another person, and destroy someone’s network or computer.

In the present time, Cyber Crime remains a headache for the people; it is a severe problem; to stop this activity, every country in the world developed laws.

Under it, a very similar court of U.S. Cyber Crime, it is divided into three parts.

The first one in which computer equipment is its target, such as controlling the network of another.

Second, using the computer as a weapon, such as a denial of service attack.

 Third, the computer is used as an accessory for crime, such as taking illegal data or stealing from the computer.

U.S. Court believes that Cyber Crime is a kind of dangerous malicious activity that means there is a conspiracy to spread from viruses.

In which much actionable data is taken and then entered into the systems of others, by doing this, copyrighted things are significantly damaged.

Other types of cybercrime include gaming, selling illegal items such as weapons, drugs, and children’s porn are some types of cybercrime.

Everyone thinks that merely stealing someone’s data is a cybercrime, but in defining the terms, we can say that cybercrime refers to the use of an electronic device (computer, laptop, etc.) to try to steal someone’s data or harm them using a computer.

Cybercrime is an illegal activity involving a range of issues ranging from theft using your system or I.P. Address as a tool for committing a crime.

It is an illegal act where a computer is used as a tool or target or both as follows:

These days cybercrime is a fast-growing area of crime, as technology is advancing, man is becoming dependent on the Internet for all his needs.

It makes shopping, gaming, online study, social networking, online jobs, and so on all available easily in one place.

Apart from other countries, India is not far from the place where the rate of cybercrime is increasing day by day.

Cybercrime is classified into four major types; these are financial, privacy, hacking, and cyber-terrorism.

The Generation in laptop is the age of processors.

Cyber Crime Essay 300 words:

Today many people all over the world are stealing personal information of people sitting at home through online Internet, which is called cybercrime.

First of all, let us tell you when a person can send ugly or rude messages to another person through email service. This Act hurts the mind of the person receiving the email.

Secondly, someone who has little knowledge of computers can develop Viruses on the Internet.

Email Services are commonly used or used to commit this misdeed. In every computer in which these email messages go, Virus ruins the computer after entry in the system, both the machine and its information can be badly destroyed.

In the hall itself, the Philippine police arrested the father of ‘I love you’ Virus. Individuals with wrong motives get information about access codes of Numbers to bank accounts.

They get these banks to transfer money to their accounts, and the banks do not even know. There is a need for a little cleverness, and these criminals are different.

Some individuals create a disturbance in the websites of private sector enterprises.

Friends, you will be surprised to know that they send Virus to those websites, get highly sensitive information from there, or try their best to spoil the image of any person or enterprise on a site by adopting propaganda.

Cybercrime in the States of India:

In 5 years, more than 5900 cases were reported in Maharashtra and made on top, with Uttar Pradesh nearly 5000 cases in second place and Karnataka in third place with over 3500 cases.

Cybercrime in India is registered under three main heads, I.T. Act, IPC (Indian Penal Code), and State Level Legislation (SLL). Also, read Cyber Crime Essay 400 words.

Cases of Cyber Laws under I.T.:

• Tampering with computer source documents – Sec. 65
• Computer Systems, Hacking with Data Transformation – Sec. 66
• Publishing pornographic information – Sec. 67
• Non-Authorized Access to Protected Systems – Sec. 70
• Privacy and breach of confidentiality – Sec. 72
• Publishing false digital signature certificate – Sec. 73

The web world or cyberspace is a vast community of millions and billions of users and websites.

Apart from this, people use it for various activities like shopping, movies, music, video games, transactions, and e-commerce, etc.

Due to this age of technology and easy access to the Internet, anyone can easily be reached; this has led to rapid growth since the last decade.

Moreover, the Internet has opened up an information world to which anyone can connect, due to this, the rate of crime, especially cybercrime, has increased very much.

Also, the rate of circulation of data increases significantly due to high internet speed, because of all these issues, cyber security has become a significant concern for society.

Essay on Cyber Crime 400 words:

Cybercrime has to become a significant problem all over the world, and due to which many cyber security agencies have been formed to take some action against this crime.

In many countries to stop this crime worldwide, many cybercrime agencies have been formed.

Like computers are used for hacking, but through cyber agents, these cyber agents get some evidence to catch hackers.

Several cases of hacking have been reported since opening cybercrime agencies, and cyber agents have caught several hackers.

Hackers are given many punishments, such as taking hefty fines from them or putting them in jail.

On the other hand, these cyber security people seek the help of many hackers to find other hackers who harass people.

So this cybercrime is a big problem in today’s world, and we should be aware of it and always be safe from these cybercriminals.

Cybercrime is the latest and perhaps most complicated problem in the cyber world. The term “cybercrime” is not defined anywhere in any law or Act passed or enacted by the Indian Parliament.

Any criminal activity that uses the computer either as a means to target or to eliminate further crimes comes under the cybercrime.

Cybercrime or computer oriented crime is a crime that involves a computer and a network.

Today the whole world is affected by cybercrime; it is involved in the illegal use of modern telecommunication networks (Internet, mobile phones) people makes committed crimes torture them, knowingly physical or mental damage, and damage to his reputation.

In today’s time, this is the work of many people, they steal people’s data and then start abusing them, and cybercrime can threaten the security and financial health of an individual or a nation.

Cybercrime is an illegal act where the computer is used as a means or target, or both ways.

Cybercrime is a broad term, which can also be defined as: “criminal activity where a computer or computer network is used as a means, target or place of criminal activity.”

Types of cybercrime:

Cybercrime is classified into four major types, financial, privacy, hacking, and cyber-terrorism.

Financial crimes mean stealing money from the account holders. Similarly, they also took the data of companies that could lead to financial crimes.

Also, they are at significant risk due to the transaction. Every year hackers steal the money from business people and government worth millions and crores of rupees.

Privacy crime involves stealing your data that you do not want to share with the world. Also, people suffer a lot, and some people even commit suicide due to the misuse of their data.

In hacking, they intentionally damage a website causing loss or damage to the public or the owner. Also, they destroy or modify existing sites to reduce their value.

This is a crime in which illegal control over a person’s website is done illegally. In this way, the owner of the website loses control and essential information on that website.

In modern-day terrorism has advanced 10-20 years ago. Still, cyber terrorism is not related only to terrorists or terrorist organizations, but threatening a person or property at the level of creating fear is also cyber terrorism. Also, read Cyber Crime Essay 600 words.

Measures to prevent cybercrime:

• Computer users should use a firewall to protect their computers from hackers.
• Computer users should install anti-virus software such as McAfee or Norton anti-virus.
• Cyber experts have advised users to only access secure websites.
• We should never give their credit card information to suspects or strangers.
• Users should develop strong passwords on their accounts, i.e., include characters and numbers in the password, and continuously update the password and login details.
• Monitor children and limit their use of the Internet.
• Check the security settings of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and be careful, protect information to avoid hacking, use encryption for most sensitive files or financial records.
• For all vital information to create a back-up, and having it stored somewhere else, users should be cautious while using public Wi-Fi hotspots.
• Avoid handling financial transactions on these networks; users should be careful while giving personal information such as name, address, phone number, or financial information on the Internet, make sure that the websites are secure.

Cyber Crime Essay 600 words:

Cybercrime is a crime that is an excellent crime in our society; cybercrime is a type of crime that is done through computers.

It is created by misusing the computer, and it is networked improperly.

This cybercrime is designed by some to intentionally harm other people by hacking or obtaining their private information, and this can be done quickly by modern internet technology through which these people create crime in society.

Hackers who hack other people’s private information or personal information, later blackmail them and harass them.

Most of the women in our society have to face this problem of harassment; they have become the most victim of these hackers.

This problem of cybercrime is not only in India, but this problem is spread all over the world by many hackers who hack and harass people across the globe, most of the hackers are from Russia.

These Russians hack the accounts of many people and later blackmail them, it has become a significant problem worldwide.

This hacking is started with computers, and this internet connection hackers easily hack people’s information through the machine.

Nowadays, it is also easy to hack from mobile phones; this hacking created a big problem in society.

These hackers are steading all the money from bank accounts or other personal accounts of people.

They send a virus on the other computer, and this Virus affects the equipment, and many unwanted things come into their network, which causes a big problem for the device.

After this Virus causes some psychological effects of the user, they put that unwanted thing in their computer through the illness.

Types of cybercrimes include pornography, cyber fraud, defamation, cyberstalking, harassment, IPR theft, data hostage, money laundering, phishing, email bombing, cyber warfare, illegal FTF.

Cybercrime is different and more terrible as cybercrime than a traditional crime; the offence is committed in an electronic medium, a general rule under the penal provisions of the Information Technology Act.

The Indian Parliament considered it necessary to give effect to the resolution by which U.N.

The General Assembly adopted the Model Law on Electronic Commerce adopted by the United Nations Commission on Trade Law, which resulted in the passage of the Information Technology Act, 2000, a welcome step at a time when there was no law on the sector.

However, the Act has proved inadequate during its application, and the Act has some shortcomings.

Cases of spam, hacking, stalking and email fraud are widespread, although cyber crime cells have been set up in major cities, the problem is that most of the cases are unavailable due to lack of awareness.

The capacity of the human mind is immeasurable, it is not possible to eliminate cybercrime from cyberspace, and however, it is quite possible to investigate them.

The home user segment is the biggest recipient of cyber-attacks as they are less likely to set up security measures in place and therefore require that people be made aware of their rights and duties.

Allowing users to access any electronic items on their computer should install anti-virus software, firewall, interruption detection system to make the application of laws more rigorous for further investigation of crime, etc.

Also, read 1. Essay on Internet 2. Digital India Essay 3. Cashless Economy Essay 4. Essay on Computer

Conclusion:

Cybercrime is an act that is neither widespread nor exhaustive; the Information Technology Act has not distributed with cyber irritation, cyber robbery, and cyber defamation, and so on.

• Section Under Essays

Gupshups is the place to find the most inspirational & motivation quotes, essay, speechs & lot more.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Click through the PLOS taxonomy to find articles in your field.

For more information about PLOS Subject Areas, click here .

Loading metrics

Open Access

Peer-reviewed

Research Article

Mapping the global geography of cybercrime with the World Cybercrime Index

Roles Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Visualization, Writing – original draft

* E-mail: [email protected]

Affiliations Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Canberra School of Professional Studies, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia

Roles Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft

Affiliations Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

Roles Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – review & editing

Affiliations Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

Roles Funding acquisition, Methodology, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Department of Software Systems and Cybersecurity, Faculty of IT, Monash University, Victoria, Australia

Roles Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Centre d’études européennes et de politique comparée, Sciences Po, Paris, France

• Miranda Bruce, 
• Jonathan Lusthaus, 
• Ridhi Kashyap, 
• Nigel Phair, 
• Federico Varese

• Published: April 10, 2024
• https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297312
• Peer Review
• Reader Comments

Cybercrime is a major challenge facing the world, with estimated costs ranging from the hundreds of millions to the trillions. Despite the threat it poses, cybercrime is somewhat an invisible phenomenon. In carrying out their virtual attacks, offenders often mask their physical locations by hiding behind online nicknames and technical protections. This means technical data are not well suited to establishing the true location of offenders and scholarly knowledge of cybercrime geography is limited. This paper proposes a solution: an expert survey. From March to October 2021 we invited leading experts in cybercrime intelligence/investigations from across the world to participate in an anonymized online survey on the geographical location of cybercrime offenders. The survey asked participants to consider five major categories of cybercrime, nominate the countries that they consider to be the most significant sources of each of these types of cybercrimes, and then rank each nominated country according to the impact, professionalism, and technical skill of its offenders. The outcome of the survey is the World Cybercrime Index, a global metric of cybercriminality organised around five types of cybercrime. The results indicate that a relatively small number of countries house the greatest cybercriminal threats. These findings partially remove the veil of anonymity around cybercriminal offenders, may aid law enforcement and policymakers in fighting this threat, and contribute to the study of cybercrime as a local phenomenon.

Citation: Bruce M, Lusthaus J, Kashyap R, Phair N, Varese F (2024) Mapping the global geography of cybercrime with the World Cybercrime Index. PLoS ONE 19(4): e0297312. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297312

Editor: Naeem Jan, Korea National University of Transportation, REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Received: October 11, 2023; Accepted: January 3, 2024; Published: April 10, 2024

Copyright: © 2024 Bruce et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Data Availability: The dataset and relevant documents have been uploaded to the Open Science Framework. Data can be accessed via the following URL: https://osf.io/5s72x/?view_only=ea7ee238f3084054a6433fbab43dc9fb .

Funding: This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant agreement No. 101020598 – CRIMGOV, Federico Varese PI). FV received the award and is the Primary Investigator. The ERC did not play any role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Funder website: https://erc.europa.eu/faq-programme/h2020 .

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Introduction

Although the geography of cybercrime attacks has been documented, the geography of cybercrime offenders–and the corresponding level of “cybercriminality” present within each country–is largely unknown. A number of scholars have noted that valid and reliable data on offender geography are sparse [ 1 – 4 ], and there are several significant obstacles to establishing a robust metric of cybercriminality by country. First, there are the general challenges associated with the study of any hidden population, for whom no sampling frame exists [ 5 , 6 ]. If cybercriminals themselves cannot be easily accessed or reliably surveyed, then cybercriminality must be measured through a proxy. This is the second major obstacle: deciding what kind of proxy data would produce the most valid measure of cybercriminality. While there is much technical data on cybercrime attacks, this data captures artefacts of the digital infrastructure or proxy (obfuscation) services used by cybercriminals, rather than their true physical location. Non-technical data, such as legal cases, can provide geographical attribution for a small number of cases, but the data are not representative of global cybercrime. In short, the question of how best to measure the geography of cybercriminal offenders is complex and unresolved.

There is tremendous value in developing a metric for cybercrime. Cybercrime is a major challenge facing the world, with the most sober cost estimates in the hundreds of millions [ 7 , 8 ], but with high-end estimates in the trillions [ 9 ]. By accurately identifying which countries are cybercrime hotspots, the public and private sectors could concentrate their resources on these hotspots and spend less time and funds on cybercrime countermeasures in countries where the problem is limited. Whichever strategies are deployed in the fight against cybercrime (see for example [ 10 – 12 ]), they should be targeted at countries that produce the largest cybercriminal threat [ 3 ]. A measure of cybercriminality would also enable other lines of scholarly inquiry. For instance, an index of cybercriminality by country would allow for a genuine dependent variable to be deployed in studies attempting to assess which national characteristics–such as educational attainment, Internet penetration, or GDP–are associated with cybercrime [ 4 , 13 ]. These associations could also be used to identify future cybercrime hubs so that early interventions could be made in at-risk countries before a serious cybercrime problem develops. Finally, this metric would speak directly to theoretical debates on the locality of cybercrime, and organized crime more generally [ 11 – 14 ]. The challenge we have accepted is to develop a metric that is both global and robust. The following sections respectively outline the background elements of this study, the methods, the results, and then discussion and limitations.

Profit-driven cybercrime, which is the focus of this paper/research, has been studied by both social scientists and computer scientists. It has been characterised by empirical contributions that have sought to illuminate the nature and organisation of cybercrime both online and offline [ 15 – 20 ]. But, as noted above, the geography of cybercrime has only been addressed by a handful of scholars, and they have identified a number of challenges connected to existing data. In a review of existing work in this area, Lusthaus et al. [ 2 ] identify two flaws in existing cybercrime metrics: 1) their ability to correctly attribute the location of cybercrime offenders; 2) beyond a handful of examples, their ability to compare the severity and scale of cybercrime between countries.

Building attribution into a cybercrime index is challenging. Often using technical data, cybersecurity firms, law enforcement agencies and international organisations regularly publish reports that identify the major sources of cyber attacks (see for example [ 21 – 24 ]). Some of these sources have been aggregated by scholars (see [ 20 , 25 – 29 ]). But the kind of technical data contained in these reports cannot accurately measure offender location. Kigerl [ 1 ] provides some illustrative remarks:

Where the cybercriminals live is not necessarily where the cyberattacks are coming from. An offender from Romania can control zombies in a botnet, mostly located in the United States, from which to send spam to countries all over the world, with links contained in them to phishing sites located in China. The cybercriminal’s reach is not limited by national borders (p. 473).

As cybercriminals often employ proxy services to hide their IP addresses, carry out attacks across national boundaries, collaborate with partners around the world, and can draw on infrastructure based in different countries, superficial measures do not capture the true geographical distribution of these offenders. Lusthaus et al. [ 2 ] conclude that attempts to produce an index of cybercrime by country using technical data suffer from a problem of validity. “If they are a measure of anything”, they argue, “they are a measure of cyber-attack geography”, not of the geography of offenders themselves (p. 452).

Non-technical data are far better suited to incorporating attribution. Court records, indictments and other investigatory materials speak more directly to the identification of offenders and provide more granular detail on their location. But while this type of data is well matched to micro-level analysis and case studies, there are fundamental questions about the representativeness of these small samples, even if collated. First, any sample would capture cases only where cybercriminals had been prosecuted, and would not include offenders that remain at large. Second, if the aim was to count the number of cybercrime prosecutions by country, this may reflect the seriousness with which various countries take cybercrime law enforcement or the resources they have to pursue it, rather than the actual level of cybercrime within each country (for a discussion see [ 30 , 31 ]). Given such concerns, legal data is also not an appropriate approach for such a research program.

Furthermore, to carry out serious study on this topic, a cybercrime metric should aim to include as many countries as possible, and the sample must allow for variation so that high and low cybercrime countries can be compared. If only a handful of widely known cybercrime hubs are studied, this will result in selection on the dependent variable. The obvious challenge in providing such a comparative scale is the lack of good quality data to devise it. As an illustration, in their literature review Hall et al. [ 10 ] identify the “dearth of robust data” on the geographical location of cybercriminals, which means they are only able to include six countries in their final analysis (p. 285. See also [ 4 , 32 , 33 ]).

Considering the weaknesses within both existing technical and legal data discussed above, Lusthaus et al. [ 2 ] argue for the use of an expert survey to establish a global metric of cybercriminality. Expert survey data “can be extrapolated and operationalised”, and “attribution can remain a key part of the survey, as long as the participants in the sample have an extensive knowledge of cybercriminals and their operations” (p. 453). Up to this point, no such study has been produced. Such a survey would need to be very carefully designed for the resulting data to be both reliable and valid. One criticism of past cybercrime research is that surveys were used whenever other data was not immediately available, and that they were not always designed with care (for a discussion see [ 34 ]).

In response to the preceding considerations, we designed an expert survey in 2020, refined it through focus groups, and deployed it throughout 2021. The survey asked participants to consider five major types of cybercrime– Technical products/services ; Attacks and extortion ; Data/identity theft ; Scams ; and Cashing out/money laundering –and nominate the countries that they consider to be the most significant sources of each of these cybercrime types. Participants then rated each nominated country according to the impact of the offenses produced there, and the professionalism and technical skill of the offenders based there. Using the expert responses, we generated scores for each type of cybercrime, which we then combined into an overall metric of cybercriminality by country: the World Cybercrime Index (WCI). The WCI achieves our initial goal to devise a valid measure of cybercrime hub location and significance, and is the first step in our broader aim to understand the local dimensions of cybercrime production across the world.

Participants

Identifying and recruiting cybercrime experts is challenging. Much like the hidden population of cybercriminals we were trying to study, cybercrime experts themselves are also something of a hidden population. Due to the nature of their work, professionals working in the field of cybercrime tend to be particularly wary of unsolicited communication. There is also the problem of determining who is a true cybercrime expert, and who is simply presenting themselves as one. We designed a multi-layered sampling method to address such challenges.

The heart of our strategy involved purposive sampling. For an index based entirely on expert opinion, ensuring the quality of these experts (and thereby the quality of our survey results) was of the utmost importance. We defined “expertise” as adult professionals who have been engaged in cybercrime intelligence, investigation, and/or attribution for a minimum of five years and had a reputation for excellence amongst their peers. Only currently- or recently-practicing intelligence officers and investigators were included in the participant pool. While participants could be from either the public or private sectors, we explicitly excluded professionals working in the field of cybercrime research who are not actively involved in tracking offenders, which includes writers and academics. In short, only experts with first-hand knowledge of cybercriminals are included in our sample. To ensure we had the leading experts from a wide range of backgrounds and geographical areas, we adopted two approaches for recruitment. We searched extensively through a range of online sources including social media (e.g. LinkedIn), corporate sites, news articles and cybercrime conference programs to identify individuals who met our inclusion criteria. We then faced a second challenge of having to find or discern contact information for these individuals.

Complementing this strategy, the authors also used their existing relationships with recognised cybercrime experts to recruit participants using the “snowball” method [ 35 ]. This both enhanced access and provided a mechanism for those we knew were bona fide experts to recommend other bona fide experts. The majority of our participants were recruited in this manner, either directly through our initial contacts or through a series of referrals that followed. But it is important to note that this snowball sampling fell under our broader purposive sampling strategy. That is, all the original “seeds” had to meet our inclusion criteria of being a top expert in the first instance. Any connections we were offered also had to meet our criteria or we would not invite them to participate. Another important aspect of this sampling strategy is that we did not rely on only one gatekeeper, but numerous, often unrelated, individuals who helped us with introductions. This approach reduced bias in the sample. It was particularly important to deploy a number of different “snowballs” to ensure that we included experts from each region of the world (Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and South America) and from a range of relevant professional backgrounds. We limited our sampling strategy to English speakers. The survey itself was likewise written in English. The use of English was partly driven by the resources available for this study, but the population of cybercrime experts is itself very global, with many attending international conferences and cooperating with colleagues from across the world. English is widely spoken within this community. While we expect the gains to be limited, future surveys will be translated into some additional languages (e.g. Spanish and Chinese) to accommodate any non-English speaking experts that we may not otherwise be able to reach.

Our survey design, detailed below, received ethics approval from the Human Research Advisory Panel (HREAP A) at the University of New South Wales in Australia, approval number HC200488, and the Research Ethics Committee of the Department of Sociology (DREC) at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, approval number SOC_R2_001_C1A_20_23. Participants were recruited in waves between 1 August 2020 and 30 September 2021. All participants provided consent to participate in the focus groups, pilot survey, and final survey.

Survey design

The survey comprised three stages. First, we conducted three focus groups with seven experts in cybercrime intelligence/investigations to evaluate our initial assumptions, concepts, and framework. These experts were recruited because they had reputations as some of the very top experts in the field; they represented a range of backgrounds in terms of their own geographical locations and expertise across different types of cybercrime; and they spanned both the public and private sectors. In short, they offered a cross-section of the survey sample we aimed to recruit. These focus groups informed several refinements to the survey design and specific terms to make them better comprehensible to participants. Some of the key terms, such as “professionalism” and “impact”, were a direct result of this process. Second, some participants from the focus groups then completed a pilot version of the survey, alongside others who had not taken part in these focus groups, who could offer a fresh perspective. This allowed us to test technical components, survey questions, and user experience. The pilot participants provided useful feedback and prompted a further refinement of our approach. The final survey was released online in March 2021 and closed in October 2021. We implemented several elements to ensure data quality, including a series of preceding statements about time expectations, attention checks, and visual cues throughout the survey. These elements significantly increased the likelihood that our participants were both suitable and would provide full and thoughtful responses.

The introduction to the survey outlined the survey’s two main purposes: to identify which countries are the most significant sources of profit-driven cybercrime, and to determine how impactful the cybercrime is in these locations. Participants were reminded that state-based actors and offenders driven primarily by personal interests (for instance, cyberbullying or harassment) should be excluded from their consideration. We defined the “source” of cybercrime as the country where offenders are primarily based, rather than their nationality. To maintain a level of consistency, we made the decision to only include countries formally recognised by the United Nations. We initially developed seven categories of cybercrime to be included in the survey, based on existing research. But during the focus groups and pilot survey, our experts converged on five categories as the most significant cybercrime threats on a global scale:

• Technical products/services (e.g. malware coding, botnet access, access to compromised systems, tool production).
• Attacks and extortion (e.g. DDoS attacks, ransomware).
• Data/identity theft (e.g. hacking, phishing, account compromises, credit card comprises).
• Scams (e.g. advance fee fraud, business email compromise, online auction fraud).
• Cashing out/money laundering (e.g. credit card fraud, money mules, illicit virtual currency platforms).

After being prompted with these descriptions and a series of images of world maps to ensure participants considered a wide range of regions/countries, participants were asked to nominate up to five countries that they believed were the most significant sources of each of these types of cybercrime. Countries could be listed in any order; participants were not instructed to rank them. Nominating countries was optional and participants were free to skip entire categories if they wished. Participants were then asked to rate each of the countries they nominated against three measures: how impactful the cybercrime is, how professional the cybercrime offenders are, and how technically skilled the cybercrime offenders are. Across each of these three measures, participants were asked to assign scores on a Likert-type scale between 1 (e.g. least professional) to 10 (e.g. most professional). Nominating and then rating countries was repeated for all five cybercrime categories.

This process, of nominating and then rating countries across each category, introduces a potential limitation in the survey design: the possibility of survey response fatigue. If a participant nominated the maximum number of countries across each cybercrime category– 25 countries–by the end of the survey they would have completed 75 Likert-type scales. The repetition of this task, paired with the consideration that it requires, has the potential to introduce respondent fatigue as the survey progresses, in the form of response attrition, an increase in careless responses, and/or increased likelihood of significantly higher/lower scores given. This is a common phenomenon in long-form surveys [ 36 ], and especially online surveys [ 37 , 38 ]. Jeong et al [ 39 ], for instance, found that questions asked near the end of a 2.5 hour survey were 10–64% more likely to be skipped than those at the beginning. We designed the survey carefully, refined with the aid of focus groups and a pilot, to ensure that only the most essential questions were asked. As such, the survey was not overly long (estimated to take 30 minutes). To accommodate any cognitive load, participants were allowed to complete the survey anytime within a two-week window. Their progress was saved after each session, which enabled participants to take breaks between completing each section (a suggestion made by Jeong et al [ 39 ]). Crucially, throughout survey recruitment, participants were informed that the survey is time-intensive and required significant attention. At the beginning of the survey, participants were instructed not to undertake the survey unless they could allocate 30 minutes to it. This approach pre-empted survey fatigue by discouraging those likely to lose interest from participating. This compounds the fact that only experts with a specific/strong interest in the subject matter of the survey were invited to participate. Survey fatigue is addressed further in the Discussion section, where we provide an analysis suggesting little evidence of participant fatigue.

In sum, we designed the survey to protect against various sources of bias and error, and there are encouraging signs that the effects of these issues in the data are limited (see Discussion ). Yet expert surveys are inherently prone to some types of bias and response issues; in the WCI, the issue of selection and self-selection within our pool of experts, as well as geo-political biases that may lead to systematic over- or under-scoring of certain countries, is something we considered closely. We discuss these issues in detail in the subsection on Limitations below.

This “type” score is then multiplied by the proportion of experts who nominated that country. Within each cybercrime type, a country could be nominated a possible total of 92 times–once per participant. We then multiply this weighted score by ten to produce a continuous scale out of 100 (see Eq (2) ). This process prevents countries that received high scores, but a low number of nominations, from receiving artificially high rankings.

The analyses for this paper were performed in R. All data and code have been made publicly available so that our analysis can be reproduced and extended.

We contacted 245 individuals to participate in the survey, of which 147 agreed and were sent invitation links to participate. Out of these 147, a total of 92 people completed the survey, giving us an overall response rate of 37.5%. Given the expert nature of the sample, this is a high response rate (for a detailed discussion see [ 40 ]), and one just below what Wu, Zhao, and Fils-Aime estimate of response rates for general online surveys in social science: 44% [ 41 ]. The survey collected information on the participants’ primary nationality and their current country of residence. Four participants chose not to identify their nationality. Overall, participants represented all five major geopolitical regions (Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America and South America), both in nationality and residence, though the distribution was uneven and concentrated in particular regions/countries. There were 8 participants from Africa, 11 participants from the Asia Pacific, 27 from North America, and 39 from Europe. South America was the least represented region with only 3 participants. A full breakdown of participants’ nationality, residence, and areas of expertise is included in the Supporting Information document (see S1 Appendix ).

Table 1 shows the scores for the top fifteen countries of the WCI overall index. Each entry shows the country, along with the mean score (out of 10) averaged across the participants who nominated this country, for three categories: impact, professionalism, and technical skill. This is followed by each country’s WCI overall and WCI type scores. Countries are ordered by their WCI overall score. Each country’s highest WCI type scores are highlighted. Full indices that include all 197 UN-recognised countries can be found in S1 Indices .

• PPT PowerPoint slide
• PNG larger image
• TIFF original image

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297312.t001

Some initial patterns can be observed from this table, as well as the full indices in the supplementary document (see S1 Indices ). First, a small number of countries hold consistently high ranks for cybercrime. Six countries–China, Russia, Ukraine, the US, Romania, and Nigeria–appear in the top 10 of every WCI type index, including the WCI overall index. Aside from Romania, all appear in the top three at least once. While appearing in a different order, the first ten countries in the Technical products/services and Attacks and extortion indices are the same. Second, despite this small list of countries regularly appearing as cybercrime hubs, the survey results capture a broad geographical diversity. All five geopolitical regions are represented across each type. Overall, 97 distinct countries were nominated by at least one expert. This can be broken down into the cybercrime categories. Technical products/services includes 41 different countries; Attacks and extortion 43; Data/identity theft 51; Scams 49; and Cashing out/money laundering 63.

Some key findings emerge from these results, which are further illustrated by the following Figs 1 and 2 . First, cybercrime is not universally distributed. Certain countries are cybercrime hubs, while many others are not associated with cybercriminality in a serious way. Second, countries that are cybercrime hubs specialise in particular types of cybercrime. That is, despite a small number of countries being leading producers of cybercrime, there is meaningful variation between them both across categories, and in relation to scores for impact, professionalism and technical skill. Third, the results show a longer list of cybercrime-producing countries than are usually included in publications on the geography of cybercrime. As the survey captures leading producers of cybercrime, rather than just any country where cybercrime is present, this suggests that, even if a small number of countries are of serious concern, and close to 100 are of little concern at all, the remaining half are of at least moderate concern.

Base map and data from OpenStreetMap and OpenStreetMap Foundation.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297312.g001

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297312.g002

To examine further the second finding concerning hub specialisation, we calculated an overall “Technicality score”–or “T-score”–for the top 15 countries of the WCI overall index. We assigned a value from 2 to -2 to each type of cybercrime to designate the level of technical complexity involved. Technical products/services is the most technically complex type (2), followed by Attacks and extortion (1), Data/identity theft (0), Scams (-1), and finally Cashing out and money laundering (-2), which has very low technical complexity. We then multiplied each country’s WCI score for each cybercrime type by its assigned value–for instance, a Scams WCI score of 5 would be multiplied by -1, with a final modified score of -5. As a final step, for each country, we added all of their modified WCI scores across all five categories together to generate the T-score. Fig 3 plots the top 15 WCI overall countries’ T-scores, ordering them by score. Countries with negative T-scores are highlighted in red, and countries with positive scores are in black.

Negative values correspond to lower technicality, positive values to higher technicality.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297312.g003

The T-score is best suited to characterising a given hub’s specialisation. For instance, as the line graph makes clear, Russia and Ukraine are highly technical cybercrime hubs, whereas Nigerian cybercriminals are engaged in less technical forms of cybercrime. But for countries that lie close to the centre (0), the story is more complex. Some may specialise in cybercrime types with middling technical complexity (e.g. Data/identity theft ). Others may specialise in both high- and low-tech crimes. In this sample of countries, India (-6.02) somewhat specialises in Scams but is otherwise a balanced hub, whereas Romania (10.41) and the USA (-2.62) specialise in both technical and non-technical crimes, balancing their scores towards zero. In short, each country has a distinct profile, indicating a unique local dimension.

This paper introduces a global and robust metric of cybercriminality–the World Cybercrime Index. The WCI moves past previous technical measures of cyber attack geography to establish a more focused measure of the geography of cybercrime offenders. Elicited through an expert survey, the WCI shows that cybercrime is not universally distributed. The key theoretical contribution of this index is to illustrate that cybercrime, often seen as a fluid and global type of organized crime, actually has a strong local dimension (in keeping with broader arguments by some scholars, such as [ 14 , 42 ]).

While we took a number of steps to ensure our sample of experts was geographically representative, the sample is skewed towards some regions (such as Europe) and some countries (such as the US). This may simply reflect the high concentration of leading cybercrime experts in these locations. But it is also possible this distribution reflects other factors, including the authors’ own social networks; the concentration of cybercrime taskforces and organisations in particular countries; the visibility of different nations on networking platforms like LinkedIn; and also perhaps norms of enthusiasm or suspicion towards foreign research projects, both inside particular organisations and between nations.

To better understand what biases might have influenced the survey data, we analysed participant rating behaviours with a series of linear regressions. Numerical ratings were the response and different participant characteristics–country of nationality; country of residence; crime type expertise; and regional expertise–were the predictors. Our analysis found evidence (p < 0.05) that participants assigned higher ratings to the countr(ies) they either reside in or are citizens of, though this was not a strong or consistent result. For instance, regional experts did not consistently rate their region of expertise more highly than other regions. European and North American experts, for example, rated countries from these regions lower than countries from other regions. Our analysis of cybercrime type expertise showed even less systematic rating behaviour, with no regression yielding a statistically significant (p < 0.05) result. Small sample sizes across other known participant characteristics meant that further analyses of rating behaviour could not be performed. This applied to, for instance, whether residents and citizens of the top ten countries in the WCI nominated their own countries more or less often than other experts. On this point: 46% of participants nominated their own country at some point in the survey, but the majority (83%) of nominations were for a country different to the participant’s own country of residence or nationality. This suggested limited bias towards nominating one’s own country. Overall, these analyses point to an encouraging observation: while there is a slight home-country bias, this does not systematically result in higher rating behaviour. Longitudinal data from future surveys, as well as a larger participant pool, will better clarify what other biases may affect rating behaviour.

There is little evidence to suggest that survey fatigue affected our data. As the survey progressed, the heterogeneity of nominated countries across all experts increased, from 41 different countries nominated in the first category to 63 different countries nominated in the final category. If fatigue played a significant role in the results then we would expect this number to decrease, as participants were not required to nominate countries within a category and would have been motivated to nominate fewer countries to avoid extending their survey time. We further investigated the data for evidence of survey fatigue in two additional ways: by performing a Mann-Kendall/Sen’s slope trend test (MK/S) to determine whether scores skewed significantly upwards or downwards towards the end of the survey; and by compiling an intra-individual response variability (IRV) index to search for long strings of repeated scores at the end of the survey [ 43 ]. The MK/S test was marginally statistically significant (p<0.048), but the results indicated that scores trended downwards only minimally (-0.002 slope coefficient). Likewise, while the IRV index uncovered a small group of participants (n = 5) who repeatedly inserted the same score, this behaviour was not more likely to happen at the end of the survey (see S7 and S8 Tables in S1 Appendix ).

It is encouraging that there is at least some external validation for the WCI’s highest ranked countries. Steenbergen and Marks [ 44 ] recommend that data produced from expert judgements should “demonstrate convergent validity with other measures of [the topic]–that is, the experts should provide evaluations of the same […] phenomenon that other measurement instruments pick up.” (p. 359) Most studies of the global cybercrime geography are, as noted in the introduction, based on technical measures that cannot accurately establish the true physical location of offenders (for example [ 1 , 4 , 28 , 33 , 45 ]). Comparing our results to these studies would therefore be of little value, as the phenomena being measured differs: they are measuring attack infrastructure, whereas the WCI measures offender location. Instead, looking at in-depth qualitative cybercrime case studies would provide a better comparison, at least for the small number of higher ranked countries. Though few such studies into profit-driven cybercrime exist, and the number of countries included are limited, we can see that the top ranked countries in the WCI match the key cybercrime producing countries discussed in the qualitative literature (see for example [ 3 , 10 , 32 , 46 – 50 ]). Beyond this qualitative support, our sampling strategy–discussed in the Methods section above–is our most robust control for ensuring the validity of our data.

Along with contributing to theoretical debates on the (local) nature of organized crime [ 1 , 14 ], this index can also contribute to policy discussions. For instance, there is an ongoing debate as to the best approaches to take in cybercrime reduction, whether this involves improving cyber-law enforcement capacity [ 3 , 51 ], increasing legitimate job opportunities and access to youth programs for potential offenders [ 52 , 53 ], strengthening international agreements and law harmonization [ 54 – 56 ], developing more sophisticated and culturally-specific social engineering countermeasures [ 57 ], or reducing corruption [ 3 , 58 ]. As demonstrated by the geographical, economic, and political diversity of the top 15 countries (see Table 1 ), the likelihood that a single strategy will work in all cases is low. If cybercrime is driven by local factors, then mitigating it may require a localised approach that considers the different features of cybercrime in these contexts. But no matter what strategies are applied in the fight against cybercrime, they should be targeted at the countries that produce the most cybercrime, or at least produce the most impactful forms of it [ 3 ]. An index is a valuable resource for determining these countries and directing resources appropriately. Future research that explains what is driving cybercrime in these locations might also suggest more appropriate means for tackling the problem. Such an analysis could examine relevant correlates, such as corruption, law enforcement capacity, internet penetration, education levels and so on to inform/test a theoretically-driven model of what drives cybercrime production in some locations, but not others. It also might be possible to make a kind of prediction: to identify those nations that have not yet emerged as cybercrime hubs but may in the future. This would allow an early warning system of sorts for policymakers seeking to prevent cybercrime around the world.

Limitations

In addition to the points discussed above, the findings of the WCI should be considered in light of some remaining limitations. Firstly, as noted in the methods, our pool of experts was not as large or as globally representative as we had hoped. Achieving a significant response rate is a common issue across all surveys, and is especially difficult in those that employ the snowball technique [ 59 ] and also attempt to recruit experts [ 60 ]. However, ensuring that our survey data captures the most accurate picture of cybercrime activity is an essential aspect of the project, and the under-representation of experts from Africa and South America is noteworthy. More generally, our sample size (n = 92) is relatively small. Future iterations of the WCI survey should focus on recruiting a larger pool of experts, especially those from under-represented regions. However, this is a small and hard-to-reach population, which likely means the sample size will not grow significantly. While this limits statistical power, it is also a strength of the survey: by ensuring that we only recruit the top cybercrime experts in the world, the weight and validity of our data increases.

Secondly, though we developed our cybercrime types and measures with expert focus groups, the definitions used in the WCI will always be contestable. For instance, a small number of comments left at the end of the survey indicated that the Cashing out/money laundering category was unclear to some participants, who were unsure whether they should nominate the country in which these schemes are organised or the countries in which the actual cash out occurs. A small number of participants also commented that they were not sure whether the ‘impact’ of a country’s cybercrime output should be measured in terms of cost, social change, or some other metric. We limited any such uncertainties by running a series of focus groups to check that our categories were accurate to the cybercrime reality and comprehensible to practitioners in this area. We also ran a pilot version of the survey. The beginning of the survey described the WCI’s purpose and terms of reference, and participants were able to download a document that described the project’s methodology in further detail. Each time a participant was prompted to nominate countries as a significant source of a type of cybercrime, the type was re-defined and examples of offences under that type were provided. However, the examples were not exhaustive and the definitions were brief. This was done partly to avoid significantly lengthening the survey with detailed definitions and clarifications. We also wanted to avoid over-defining the cybercrime types so that any new techniques or attack types that emerged while the survey ran would be included in the data. Nonetheless, there will always remain some elasticity around participant interpretations of the survey.

Finally, although we restricted the WCI to profit-driven activity, the distinction between cybercrime that is financially-motivated, and cybercrime that is motivated by other interests, is sometimes blurred. Offenders who typically commit profit-driven offences may also engage in state-sponsored activities. Some of the countries with high rankings within the WCI may shelter profit-driven cybercriminals who are protected by corrupt state actors of various kinds, or who have other kinds of relationships with the state. Actors in these countries may operate under the (implicit or explicit) sanctioning of local police or government officials to engage in cybercrime. Thus while the WCI excludes state-based attacks, it may include profit-driven cybercriminals who are protected by states. Investigating the intersection between profit-driven cybercrime and the state is a strong focus in our ongoing and future research. If we continue to see evidence that these activities can overlap (see for example [ 32 , 61 – 63 ]), then any models explaining the drivers of cybercrime will need to address this increasingly important aspect of local cybercrime hubs.

This study makes use of an expert survey to better measure the geography of profit-driven cybercrime and presents the output of this effort: the World Cybercrime Index. This index, organised around five major categories of cybercrime, sheds light on the geographical concentrations of financially-motivated cybercrime offenders. The findings reveal that a select few countries pose the most significant cybercriminal threat. By illustrating that hubs often specialise in particular forms of cybercrime, the WCI also offers valuable insights into the local dimension of cybercrime. This study provides a foundation for devising a theoretically-driven model to explain why some countries produce more cybercrime than others. By contributing to a deeper understanding of cybercrime as a localised phenomenon, the WCI may help lift the veil of anonymity that protects cybercriminals and thereby enhance global efforts to combat this evolving threat.

Supporting information

S1 indices. wci indices..

Full indices for the WCI Overall and each WCI Type.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297312.s001

S1 Appendix. Supporting information.

Details of respondent characteristics and analysis of rating behaviour.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297312.s002

Acknowledgments

The data collection for this project was carried out as part of a partnership between the Department of Sociology, University of Oxford and UNSW Canberra Cyber. The analysis and writing phases received support from CRIMGOV. Fig 1 was generated using information from OpenStreetMap and OpenStreetMap Foundation, which is made available under the Open Database License.

• View Article
• Google Scholar
• 2. Lusthaus J, Bruce M, Phair N. Mapping the geography of cybercrime: A review of indices of digital offending by country. 2020.
• 4. McCombie S, Pieprzyk J, Watters P. Cybercrime Attribution: An Eastern European Case Study. Proceedings of the 7th Australian Digital Forensics Conference. Perth, Australia: secAU—Security Research Centre, Edith Cowan University; 2009. pp. 41–51. https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/cybercrime-attribution-an-eastern-european-case-study
• 7. Anderson R, Barton C, Bohme R, Clayton R, van Eeten M, Levi M, et al. Measuring the cost of cybercrime. The Economics of Information Security and Privacy. Springer; 2013. pp. 265–300. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-39498-0_12
• 8. Anderson R, Barton C, Bohme R, Clayton R, Ganan C, Grasso T, et al. Measuring the Changing Cost of Cybercrime. California, USA; 2017.
• 9. Morgan S. 2022 Official Cybercrime Report. Cybersecurity Ventures; 2022. https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/esentire-dot-com-assets/assets/resourcefiles/2022-Official-Cybercrime-Report.pdf
• 12. Wall D. Cybercrime: The Transformation of Crime in the Information Age. Polity Press; 2007.
• 14. Varese F. Mafias on the move: how organized crime conquers new territories. Princeton University Press; 2011.
• 15. Dupont B. Skills and Trust: A Tour Inside the Hard Drives of Computer Hackers. Crime and networks. Routledge; 2013.
• 16. Franklin J, Paxson V, Savage S. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Internet Miscreants. Proceedings of the 2007 ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security. Alexandria, Virginia, USA; 2007.
• 17. Hutchings A, Clayton R. Configuring Zeus: A case study of online crime target selection and knowledge transmission. Scottsdale, AZ, USA: IEEE; 2017.
• 20. Levesque F, Fernandez J, Somayaji A, Batchelder. National-level risk assessment: A multi-country study of malware infections. 2016. https://homeostasis.scs.carleton.ca/~soma/pubs/levesque-weis2016.pdf
• 21. Crowdstrike. 2022 Global Threat Report. Crowdstrike; 2022. https://go.crowdstrike.com/crowdstrike/gtr
• 22. EC3. Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) 2021. EC3; 2021. https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-events/main-reports/internet-organised-crime-threat-assessment-iocta-2021
• 23. ENISA. ENISA threat Landscape 2021. ENISA; 2021. https://www.enisa.europa.eu/publications/enisa-threat-landscape-2021
• 24. Sophos. Sophos 2022 Threat Report. Sophos; 2022. https://www.sophos.com/ en-us/labs/security-threat-report
• 25. van Eeten M, Bauer J, Asghari H, Tabatabaie S, Rand D. The Role of Internet Service Providers in Botnet Mitigation. An Empirical Analysis Based on Spam Data WEIS. 2010. van Eeten, Michel and Bauer, Johannes M. and Asghari, Hadi and Tabatabaie, Shirin and Rand, David, The Role of Internet Service Providers in Botnet Mitigation an Empirical Analysis Based on Spam Data (August 15, 2010). TPRC 2010, SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1989198
• 26. He S, Lee GM, Quarterman JS, Whinston A. Cybersecurity Policies Design and Evaluation: Evidence from a Large-Scale Randomized Field Experiment. 2015. https://econinfosec.org/archive/weis2015/papers/WEIS_2015_he.pdf
• 27. Snyder P, Kanich C. No Please, After You: Detecting Fraud in Affiliate Marketing Networks. 2015. https://econinfosec.org/archive/weis2015/papers/WEIS_2015_snyder.pdf
• 29. Wang Q-H, Kim S-H. Cyber Attacks: Cross-Country Interdependence and Enforcement. 2009. http://weis09.infosecon.net/files/153/paper153.pdf
• 32. Lusthaus J. Industry of Anonymity: Inside the Business of Cybercrime. Harvard University Press; 2018.
• 33. Kshetri N. The Global Cybercrime Industry: Economic, Institutional and Strategic Perspectives. Berlin: Springer; 2010.
• 36. Backor K, Golde S, Nie N. Estimating Survey Fatigue in Time Use Study. Washington, DC.; 2007. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=401f97f2d7c684b295486636d8a84c627eb33446
• 42. Reuter P. Disorganized Crime: Illegal Markets and the Mafia. MIT Press; 1985.
• PubMed/NCBI
• 47. Sotande E. Transnational Organised Crime and Illicit Financial Flows: Nigeria, West Africa and the Global North. University of Leeds, School of Law. 2016. https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/15473/1/Emmanuel%20Sotande%20Thessis%20at%20the%20University%20of%20Leeds.%20viva%20corrected%20version%20%281%29.pdf
• 48. Lusthaus J. Modelling cybercrime development: the case of Vietnam. The Human Factor of Cybercrime. Routledge; 2020. pp. 240–257.
• 51. Lusthaus J. Electronic Ghosts. In: Democracy: A Journal of Ideas [Internet]. 2014. https://democracyjournal.org/author/jlusthaus/
• 52. Brewer R, de Vel-Palumbo M, Hutchings A, Maimon D. Positive Diversions. Cybercrime Prevention. 2019. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337297392_Positive_Diversions
• 53. National Cyber Crime Unit / Prevent Team. Pathways Into Cyber Crime. National Crime Agency; 2017. https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications/6-pathways-into-cyber-crime-1/file
• 60. Christopoulos D. Peer Esteem Snowballing: A methodology for expert surveys. 2009. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=63ac9f6db0a2fa2e0ca08cd28961385f98ec21ec

World-first “Cybercrime Index” ranks countries by cybercrime threat level

Following three years of intensive research, an international team of researchers have compiled the first ever ‘World Cybercrime Index’, which identifies the globe’s key cybercrime hotspots by ranking the most significant sources of cybercrime at a national level.

The Index, published today in the journal PLOS ONE , shows that a relatively small number of countries house the greatest cybercriminal threat. Russia tops the list, followed by Ukraine, China, the USA, Nigeria, and Romania. The UK comes in at number eight.

‘The research that underpins the Index will help remove the veil of anonymity around cybercriminal offenders, and we hope that it will aid the fight against the growing threat of profit-driven cybercrime,’ Dr Bruce said.

‘We now have a deeper understanding of the geography of cybercrime, and how different countries specialise in different types of cybercrime.’

‘By continuing to collect this data, we’ll be able to monitor the emergence of any new hotspots and it is possible early interventions could be made in at-risk countries before a serious cybercrime problem even develops.’

The data that underpins the Index was gathered through a survey of 92 leading cybercrime experts from around the world who are involved in cybercrime intelligence gathering and investigations. The survey asked the experts to consider five major categories of cybercrime*, nominate the countries that they consider to be the most significant sources of each of these types of cybercrime, and then rank each country according to the impact, professionalism, and technical skill of its cybercriminals.

Co-author Associate Professor Jonathan Lusthaus , from the University of Oxford’s Department of Sociology and Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, said cybercrime has largely been an invisible phenomenon because offenders often mask their physical locations by hiding behind fake profiles and technical protections.

'Due to the illicit and anonymous nature of their activities, cybercriminals cannot be easily accessed or reliably surveyed. They are actively hiding. If you try to use technical data to map their location, you will also fail, as cybercriminals bounce their attacks around internet infrastructure across the world. The best means we have to draw a picture of where these offenders are actually located is to survey those whose job it is to track these people,' Dr Lusthaus said.

Figuring out why some countries are cybercrime hotspots, and others aren't, is the next stage of the research. There are existing theories about why some countries have become hubs of cybercriminal activity - for example, that a technically skilled workforce with few employment opportunities may turn to illicit activity to make ends meet - which we'll be able to test against our global data set. Dr Miranda Bruce  Department of Sociology, University of Oxford and UNSW Canberra   

Co-author of the study, Professor Federico Varese from Sciences Po in France, said the World Cybercrime Index is the first step in a broader aim to understand the local dimensions of cybercrime production across the world.

‘We are hoping to expand the study so that we can determine whether national characteristics like educational attainment, internet penetration, GDP, or levels of corruption are associated with cybercrime. Many people think that cybercrime is global and fluid, but this study supports the view that, much like forms of organised crime, it is embedded within particular contexts,’ Professor Varese said.

The World Cybercrime Index has been developed as a joint partnership between the University of Oxford and UNSW and has also been funded by CRIMGOV , a European Union-supported project based at the University of Oxford and Sciences Po. The other co-authors of the study include Professor Ridhi Kashyap from the University of Oxford and Professor Nigel Phair from Monash University.

The study ‘Mapping the global geography of cybercrime with the World Cybercrime Index’ has been published in the journal PLOS ONE .

*The five major categories of cybercrime assessed by the study were:

1.   Technical products/services (e.g. malware coding, botnet access, access to compromised systems, tool production).

2.   Attacks and extortion (e.g. denial-of-service attacks, ransomware).

3.   Data/identity theft (e.g. hacking, phishing, account compromises, credit card comprises).

4.   Scams (e.g. advance fee fraud, business email compromise, online auction fraud).

5.   Cashing out/money laundering (e.g. credit card fraud, money mules, illicit virtual currency platforms).

DISCOVER MORE

• Support Oxford's research
• Partner with Oxford on research
• Study at Oxford
• Research jobs at Oxford

You can view all news or browse by category