In Order To Complete Assignment 1 You Will Need To An 810868
In Order To Complete Assignment 1 You Will Need To Answer The Below Q
In order to complete Assignment #1 you will need to answer the below questions. Please complete the questions in a Word document and then upload the assignment for grading. When assigning a name to your document please use the following format (last name_Assignment #1). Use examples from the readings, lecture notes and outside research to support your answers. The assignment must be a minimum of 1-full page in length with a minimum of 2 outside sources.
Please be sure to follow APA guidelines for citing and referencing sources. Assignments are due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on Saturday.
1. The term computer crime encompasses a very broad range of criminal acts. Explain in detail the four categories of computer crime. Use examples to support your explanations.
Paper For Above instruction
Computer crime, often referred to as cybercrime, represents a rapidly evolving spectrum of criminal activities that involve computer technology either as the target, the tool, or the method of perpetration. Understanding the different categories of computer crime is crucial for developing effective countermeasures and legal frameworks to combat these offenses. According to contemporary cybersecurity literature, the four primary categories of computer crime include crimes against the data, computer as the target, computer as the instrument, and crimes related to system security breaches (Wall, 2007).
The first category, crimes against data, involves unauthorized access, theft, or alteration of data stored electronically. Examples include hacking into a financial institution’s database to steal credit card information or deleting sensitive corporate data to disrupt operations. These crimes often aim to steal sensitive information for financial gain or to damage a competitor’s reputation. Data breaches can have severe financial and reputational consequences for organizations, emphasizing the importance of robust data security measures (Furnell & Warren, 2018).
The second category encompasses crimes where the computer itself is the target. These include attacks such as malware infections, denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, and ransomware assaults. For example, a DoS attack that overwhelms a website’s server to make it inaccessible exemplifies this category. Such attacks can disrupt services, cause financial losses, and damage brand reputation. Ransomware attacks, where criminals encrypt a victim’s data and demand payment for decryption keys, have become increasingly prevalent, affecting hospitals, government agencies, and private companies alike (Anderson, 2020).
The third category involves the computer as the instrument or tool for committing crimes. Cybercriminals use computers to facilitate illegal activities such as distributing child pornography, conducting cyber fraud, or executing identity theft schemes. For example, phishing emails that trick individuals into revealing personal information leverage email systems and computers as tools to carry out fraud. These crimes often involve complex networks and anonymization techniques to evade law enforcement detection (Holt & Bossler, 2019).
The fourth and final category pertains to crimes related to system security breaches, such as unauthorized access or violations of security protocols. An example includes hacking into government or corporate networks to access confidential information, often for espionage or political motives. Such activities can undermine national security and compromise intellectual property or sensitive diplomatic communications. As organizations expand their digital footprints, the risk and scope of security breaches continue to grow, necessitating advanced cybersecurity defenses (Bartel, 2019).
In conclusion, computer crimes are diverse and multifaceted, categorically ranging from acts targeting data storage to attacks on systems themselves, and the use of computers as tools to facilitate crimes. Each category presents unique challenges and calls for tailored legal, technological, and organizational responses to mitigate the risks associated with cybercrime. As technology advances, continuous adaptation is essential to combat the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals.
References
- Anderson, R. (2020). Ransomware: Evolution and Crisis. Security Journal, 33(2), 210-226.
- Bartel, A. (2019). Cybersecurity and the Threat Landscape: Approaches to Defense. Cybersecurity Review, 5(4), 45-52.
- Furnell, S., & Warren, M. (2018). Computer Security and Data Breaches. CRC Press.
- Holt, T. J., & Bossler, A. M. (2019). Cybercrime in Progress: Theory and Prevention. Routledge.
- Wall, D. S. (2007). Cybercrime: The Transformation of Crime in the Information Age. Policing & Society, 17(3), 221-232.