cybercrime

Table of Contents

Introduction
Defining cybercrime
Types of cybercrime
- Identity theft and invasion of privacy
- Internet fraud
- ATM fraud
- Wire fraud
- File sharing and piracy
- Counterfeiting and forgery
- Child pornography
- Hacking
- Computer viruses
- Denial of service attacks
- Spam, steganography, and e-mail hacking
- Sabotage

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

For Students

cybercrime summary

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cybercrime: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

5 men linked to global cybercrime syndicate handed new charges • May 20, 2025, 8:26 AM ET (Straits Times)

State vows law review to counter new tech threats • May 8, 2025, 2:55 AM ET (The Standard)

Criminal AI is Here—And Anyone Can Subscribe • May 7, 2025, 4:30 AM ET (Scientific American)

Another retired colonel falls into digital arrest trap, loses Rs 36 lakh • Apr. 22, 2025, 7:29 AM ET (The Indian Express)

Facts

Also Known As	computer crime

Did You Know?

The FBI created a Cyber Most Wanted List in 2014 that grew to include 42 groups and individuals by 2018.
The average cost of an American corporate data breach is almost $8 million.

Topics

cyberstalking hacking business e-mail compromise wire fraud piracy online predator cyberattack ransomware malware denial of service attack terrorism war crime human trafficking genocide assassination white-collar crime body snatching prostitution organized crime delinquency

Key People

Sterling, Bruce

Bruce Sterling

American author