What Is Cybercrime and Why Is It Committed?
John T. Bandler, Antonia Merzon · 2020
This chapter discusses the “street crimes” and “cybercrimes”, including traditional investigation concepts that translate well to the investigation of cybercrime and some that need to be adapted. It looks at the most common kinds of illegal activity that fall under the heading of “cybercrime”. When learning about various cybercrimes, and when investigating a new incident, it can be helpful to think about what the same situation would look like in the physical world. Some cybercrimes are intended to damage or impair the victim’s computer system. The attacks are analogous to criminal mischief and vandalism, and include deliberately destroying data, encrypting data using malware to demand ransom, and attacking a website to make it unavailable to customers. Computer intrusions and network intrusions involve a person breaking into someone else’s computer system without permission. The Internet also creates avenues for the sale and purchase of physical contraband, such as narcotics, weapons, stolen property, and endangered species.