What is CyberCrime- Definition, CyberCrime Types, What is Cyber Security

What is CyberCrime, Definition, Types, What is Cyber Security?

Cybercrime is a criminal offence that has drawn a lot of attention. Various agencies across the world as well as local agencies are working round the clock to face this challenge. Hackers are regarded as creators of malware & malicious software by virtue of which they carry out online criminal & fraudulent activities. We must be aware of the fact, that these Cybercriminals create computer virus & Trojans which helps them in advertising products & services in victims computers, obtain codes to access bank accounts illegally & also assist them in carrying out blackmailing operations & running Spam Campaigns.

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What is Cybercrime - Definition

Cybercrimes are regarded as extremely dangerous capable of affecting the reputation of individuals by accessing their confidential information as well as transferring money from bank accounts of people without letting them know about the same. Such forms of crime & criminals must be brought to book. Governments across the world are concerned about Cybercrimes & they are taking every possible measure to address this menace.

Computer Security-Cybersecurity

The protection of computing systems as well as the data stored inside the machine is considered as computer security. Cybersecurity is regarded as a method by virtue of which various devices like computers, mobile phones, networks, electronic systems are protected from malicious attacks. It can also be termed as Electronic Information Security or Information Technology Security. It can be categorized in the following manner :

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1.Information security

Information security protects the integrity and privacy of data. It is meant to protect the data in storage as well as in transit. It ensures protection from unauthorized use of electronic data.

2.Application security

Application security can be considered as measures necessary to keep the device & software away from threats. Application security includes hardware, software as well as various steps needed to be initiated to minimize security threats. Application security talks about the security measures at the application level that protects the data or code from being stolen within the app.

3.Operational security

The process & decisions taken to handle & protect, data assets come under the purview of Operational security. The permission users acquire while accessing a network & the procedures needed to follow while storing data or sharing data, are all part of Operational security.

4.Network Security

The practice of securing computer networks from unwanted person or Intruders, so that they will not be allowed to access the network, can be termed as Network security. Securing the network is extremely important from targeted attackers & opportunistic malware. This is given high priority.

5.Disaster recovery & Business continuity

These are policies that guide how the organization will restore its operations & information to the same level or operating capacity that existed prior to the Cybersecurity incident. It can be described as rules needed to be followed while responding to a cybersecurity breach or threat. Business continuity is the plan of action the organization executes while carrying out the operation in the absence of certain resources.

6.End-user Awareness

It takes into account the most difficult Cybersecurity factor i.e people. By mistake, a person can introduce a virus to a secure system especially if all the security practices have not been adhered to. Imparting the right education regarding handling such a situation is of immense importance. The users must be taught how to delete suspicious email attachments & not plug in USB drives as well as other protective measures are significant lessons, for keeping the security intact in any organization.

Why is Computer Security Important?

Computer security is important because it keeps the system as well as information stored inside the machine safe & secured. Unauthorized access is not allowed therefore, this form of security enables people to carry out their job, day to day business transactions &  research-related activities smoothly. Computer security also supports the business process and provides the necessary security to protect sensitive information from getting leaked.

How to protect yourself against Cybercrime

It is obvious that the cybercriminals are up to various tricks to attack the users' computer & in such a situation it is imperative to put in place multi-layer defenses. We need to have Anti-malware solutions having signature-based detection, heuristic analysis as well as cloud-assisted technologies to protect the system against such threats.

Some Basic Tips - How to Avoid yourself from Most Types of Cybercrime 

Cybercriminals have adopted very sophisticated tools & techniques to commit Cybercrimes comfortably from their living rooms. They use malware, Phishing attacks & spam to scam victims & take away their money. Let it be online harassment, identity theft scam, cyberstalking, or invasion of privacy, Cybercriminals knows how to exploit the system & make the most out of it. They make a profit out of everything they step into whether online banking systems, email accounts, or for that matter online store membership. The user can protect himself from landing into trouble by being alert, vigilant & following certain steps which strengthens the security of the system.

How to Protect Yourself from Cyber-Crime

When we try to analyze Cybercrimes, we must keep in mind that it comes in various forms & we all are vulnerable to such attacks at any given point in time. If you are not observant & active then you might get subjected to such attacks. You might get tempted to click on a link because it seems to offer a lucrative deal. Use your common sense in such a situation. If you have the slightest of doubt then avoid it. Never ever open suspicious emails. The way we stay from landing into trouble in our personal life,  in the same fashion we must be wary of Cybercriminals. Evade high-risk areas on the internet or else it can cause you severe problems.

Yes, common sense can perhaps help you to take evasive actions while dealing with such tricks adopted by Cybercriminals yet it makes sense to ensure that you have installed a good virus protection software to protect your system. Antivirus Softwares have been designed & developed precisely for this purpose. Such anti-virus Softwares are maintained by world-class security firms for the purpose of securing the interest of individuals & business firms from getting exposed to such criminals. Installing a good anti-virus software is extremely important to protect your system & is regarded as a cost-effective way of improving the security of your computers.

1.Spam Email Prevention

Apart from protection against malware, one should be wary of spam & Phishing emails, as they can steal your identity. Spam emails will either drive the user to a malicious website designed to scam individuals or will be laden with malware. Spam messages may contain a pump & dump stock schemes or unsolicited advertising. These emails will take the users to certain sites which are fake & may ask them to click on certain links to update their accounts. A simple click from your end will compromise with your computer's safety & security, making you vulnerable to such attacks.

2.Phishing Attack Prevention

A phishing attack is another common type of attack whereby the victim receives an email. They are asked to confirm certain details related to their accounts failing which their account may not remain in operational mode. The victim provides all the necessary information to save the account. In this pretext, all the relevant information about the user is gathered & is sent across to the criminal's server. As soon as it reaches the server of such unauthorized persons, they get access to all your information. It is advisable not to click on links in emails to get to a website rather write the website address in the address bar & check the notification. Subsequently, if required you can make a telephonic call to find more information pertaining to the notification received by you. If you find anything suspicious in that event you can email & report the Phishing message.

3.Cybercrime Protection

They protect your computer from such threats, you must seriously contemplate the idea of installing a comprehensive Internet security suite on your system. It will offer you certain benefits like virus protection, spam filters as well as other safeguards to keep your computer secured against various types of Cybercrimes. The greatest plus of such a suite is cloud-based security protection which makes sure that while browsing, if you come across a malicious website, it will automatically get blocked. You also get safe banking software which is meant to provide an extra layer of security while visiting a banking website.

Conclusion

This post has explained in details the harmful effects of Cybercrimes, the modus operandi of Cybercriminals & the various steps needed to be taken to secure our network & computers. We must plug in the loopholes that exist in our system, as these cybercriminals look for a small window to access our computer & exploit the situation to their advantage. Common sense as well as precautionary measures must be in place so that we can secure our system to the maximum possible extent.

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