Cybercrime refers to criminal activities that involve the use of computers, computer networks, or digital devices either as the target or the tool for committing the crime. It encompasses a broad range of illegal acts conducted through digital means, including hacking, identity theft, financial fraud, spreading malware, ransomware attacks, phishing, cyberextortion, and cyberespionage
. There are two main categories of cybercrime:
- Cyber-dependent crimes : Crimes that can only be committed using information and communication technology (ICT), where the computer or network is both the target and the tool. Examples include developing malware, hacking to steal or damage data, and denial-of-service attacks
- Cyber-enabled crimes : Traditional crimes that are facilitated or amplified by the use of ICT, such as online fraud, identity theft, and data theft
Cybercrime can target individuals, corporations, governments, or critical infrastructure, often resulting in theft, data breaches, disruption of services, or extortion. For instance, ransomware attacks encrypt victims' data and demand payment for its release, sometimes coupled with threats to disclose stolen data (double extortion)
. Cybercriminals may operate individually or as part of organized groups, using sophisticated techniques to exploit vulnerabilities in digital systems
. The nonlocal nature of cybercrime, where perpetrators and victims can be in different countries, poses significant challenges for law enforcement and requires international cooperation
. In summary, cybercrime is a complex and evolving form of crime that leverages digital technology to commit offenses ranging from theft and fraud to sabotage and espionage in the digital realm
