Cyber Crimes
Cybercrimes refer to any criminal activity that takes place by the use of a computer, internet, or any connected devices. Currently, the internet is such a dangerous place. This is because malicious people want to access people’s information and use it for personal gain. Even though not all, cybercrimes are often committed by individuals who want to make money. In some instance, the hacker are highly skilled individuals who have a lot of knowledge in information technology, while others are just novice hackers. In this paper, I will discuss four types of cybercrimes.
Malware
Malware is a type of cybercrime where attackers use software that introduces viruses or any other type of malware in the computer. Once the malware has been installed in the computer, the hacker can spy on the user’s online activities, steal personal information, or even steal financial information. It is reported that malware is among one of the most used cyberattacks. There are various methods that individuals can use to avoid malware. One of the ways is that when using web accounts, people should always confirm the domain name. If it seems weird, someone should not input their detail because it can be one o the malware that hackers are trying to use. The second method that someone can avoid malware attacks is by implementing security updates on all devices. In addition, people should store their passwords in a safe place like a password manager.
Phishing
Phishing is one of the cybercrime attacks where hackers trick people into providing them with information that ordinarily would not provide access to. Phishing is one of the methods of social engineering. This information may either be personal information or information for the organization that one works for. This method is usually targeted at people with high positions in an organization or in the government. The attackers usually get information such as login credentials, which they use to access various accounts in an unauthorized manner. One way to avoid being a victim of phishing is by being cautious around suspicious emails or links.
Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack
Distributed denial of service attack is a type of cybercrime that is meant to attack an organization’s systems. In some cases, devices that use the Internet of Things (IoT) are used to carry out DDoS. A DDoS happens when a system is sent so much request, which causes traffic and the end-run failure of the system. A DDoS attack can be used by some attackers to cause a distraction so that they can carry out other types of attacks. One of the ways an organization can implement to avoid DDoS is by ensuring that their systems are updated.
Identity Theft
This is a type of cybersecurity where attacker misuses personal information. They can use someone’s personal information to apply for loans or control all the banking activities of a person. When the attackers have someone’s personal information, all they need is some extra personal information in order to convince the bank that they are that person. To protect from any identity theft, one should ensure that they do not reveal too much information about themselves on social media or any website. The second way to avoid identity theft is by avoiding sending any personal information via email.