Looking for a list of the popular types of cybercrimes? Read on.
In this digital age, Cybercrime is any crime committed using the computer or any connected digital devices.
Cybercrime started in the 1970s with the hacking of computerized phones to make long distance calls without paying.
Currently, individuals, governments and organizations are losing billions of dollars annually to cybercrime. The FBI which is one of the foremost fighters of cybercrime is currently investigating more than 1000 cases of cybercrimes committed in the US or against US citizens.
The big issue here is this, people feel they are immune against cybercrime, yet they do not have a complete understanding of what cybercrime is.
Some of these people have fallen victim of cybercrime before realising their folly in not knowing what exactly cybercrime entails.
In view of the above, this article gives a brief summary of the popular types of cybercrimes.
Table of Contents
Popular Types Of Cybercrimes
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are designed to overwhelm a target system, network, or website with an enormous volume of traffic, rendering it inaccessible to legitimate users.
Cybercriminals achieve this by harnessing a network of compromised devices, forming a botnet, and orchestrating a coordinated assault. DDoS attacks can paralyze businesses, disrupt online services, and inflict substantial financial losses.
Implementing robust network security measures, employing traffic monitoring solutions, and utilizing content delivery networks (CDNs) can help mitigate the impact of DDoS attacks.
In addition, DDoS targets organizations like Banks and other organizations like Gaming industries, and other major websites and services.
Also, DDoS works by hijacking smaller computer networks and servers, IoTs, and other devices to direct traffic to the target. The target is overwhelmed by the traffic and eventually brought down.
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Identity Theft
Identity theft is a cybercrime in which criminals obtain and misuse someone’s personal information to commit fraudulent activities.
Identity theft focuses on stealing personal information like bank details, passwords, credit and debit card numbers, social security, date of birth, etc. the purpose of identity theft is for stealing and participating in mortgage, health, tax or insurance frauds.
Protecting ourselves from identity theft involves using strong, unique passwords, safeguarding personal information, being vigilant about phishing attempts, and regularly monitoring our financial accounts for any suspicious activity.
Hacking
Hacking focuses on gaining unauthorized access to data and information from devices, servers, websites, or services at various levels.
Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in software, weak passwords, or poor security practices to breach systems. Hacking can result in unauthorized data access, financial loss, reputational damage, and even disruption of critical infrastructure.
To fortify against hacking attempts, individuals and organizations should adopt best security practices, including employing strong passwords, implementing multifactor authentication, keeping software up to date, and conducting regular security audits.
Scamming
Scamming involves deceitful tactics aimed at tricking individuals into divulging sensitive information, making fraudulent financial transactions, or providing access to their devices or accounts.
Scammers employ various techniques such as phishing emails, lottery scams, romance scams, or fake tech support calls to exploit their victims’ trust.
Scamming is one way of stealing from the unsuspecting individuals. Usually scam works in various ways, but the common ways are through ads and spam mails offering individuals promotions and offers that are ‘too good to be true.’
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Spamming
Spamming works by using email services to send emails with fake links or malwares for the purpose of scamming. Spamming is the mass distribution of unsolicited, often malicious, and unwanted emails, messages, or advertisements.
Cybercriminals use spamming techniques to spread malware, phishing attempts, or promote fraudulent products and services. Spam emails often contain harmful attachments or links that, when clicked, can lead to malware infections or identity theft.
Usually, unsolicited messages of fake offers and promotions containing fake links or malwares are sent to users.
Protecting against spam involves using spam filters, avoiding clicking on suspicious links or attachments, and refraining from sharing email addresses with untrusted sources.
Phishing
Phishing works in the same way with spamming. Phishing is a cybercrime that involves tricking individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, or financial details, by posing as a trustworthy entity through emails, messages, or websites.
Phishing attacks often mimic well-known organizations, financial institutions, or social media platforms to deceive victims into divulging their information unwittingly.
However, phishing uses names of legitimate organizations to send fake email messages to a large number of users with the purpose of extracting information like credit card number, passwords, social security numbers, etc. for phishing attacks.
To defend against phishing attempts, it is crucial to exercise caution, verify the authenticity of communication, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and educate oneself about common phishing techniques.
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Social Engineering
Social engineering is a psychological manipulation technique employed by cybercriminals to deceive individuals and manipulate them into divulging sensitive information or granting unauthorized access.
It involves exploiting human trust, emotions, or lack of awareness to bypass security measures. Social engineering attacks can manifest in the form of impersonation, fake tech support calls, or manipulation of victims’ emotions.
Social engineering involves cybercriminals befriending an unsuspecting target personally or by getting in touch through phone calls and emails.
Moreover, Social engineering works by convincing the victim to part ways with cash personal information that can be used to swindle target victims of their hard earned money.
Protecting against social engineering requires being skeptical of unsolicited requests, never sharing sensitive information with unverified individuals or over the phone, and educating oneself about social engineering tactics.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying involves bullying individuals online, sending individuals nesting messages or blackmailing an individual. Cyberbullying is the use of digital communication platforms to harass, intimidate, or harm individuals.
It encompasses malicious messages, spreading rumors, sharing embarrassing content, or engaging in persistent online harassment. Cyberbullying can have severe emotional and psychological impacts on the victims, particularly among young individuals.
To combat cyberbullying, it is crucial to report incidents promptly, block and ignore perpetrators, seek support from trusted adults or authorities, and promote digital empathy and responsible online behaviour.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, Cybercrime in its various forms is currently the greatest threat to humanity. Therefore, fighting cybercrimes starts by learning more about cybercrimes and its operations. In our list of popular types of cybercrimes, we pinpointed the most rampant ones.
Nonetheless, you can take adequate measures to secure your digital devices against cyber threats.
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About the Author:
Abraham Faisal is a professional content writer. He has a strong passion for online privacy, cybersecurity and blockchain and is an advocate for online privacy. He has been writing about these topics since 2018 and is a regular contributor to a number of publications. He has a degree in Computer Science and has in-depth knowledge of the ever-evolving world of digital security. In his free time, he likes to travel and explore new cultures.
