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Cyber crime is a term that covers a wide range of illegal activities involving computers, networks, and devices. Cyber crime can affect individuals, businesses, organizations, and even governments. Some examples of cyber crime are hacking, identity theft, phishing, ransomware, cyberstalking, cyberterrorism, and online fraud.

Cyber crime is not only a threat to our privacy and security, but also to our economy and society. According to a report by McAfee and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the global cost of cyber crime was estimated to be $600 billion in 2017, which is equivalent to 0.8% of the global GDP. Cyber crime can also have serious consequences for human rights, such as freedom of expression, access to information, and protection from violence.

But how is cyber crime punished? What are the laws and penalties for cyber criminals? And how can we protect ourselves from becoming victims of cyber crime? In this blog post, I will try to answer these questions and provide some tips on how to prevent cyber crime.

Cyber Crime Laws and Penalties

Cyber crime laws vary from country to country, depending on their legal systems and jurisdictions. However, there are some international efforts to harmonize and cooperate on cyber crime issues, such as the Council of Europe’s Convention on Cybercrime, which is the first international treaty on cyber crime. The Convention aims to provide a common framework for criminalizing cyber crime, enhancing cooperation among countries, and protecting human rights in cyberspace.

The Convention defines several types of cyber crime offences, such as:

• Illegal access: accessing a computer system or network without authorization or exceeding authorized access.
• Illegal interception: intercepting non-public transmissions of computer data without authorization.
• Data interference: damaging, deleting, deteriorating, altering or suppressing computer data without authorization.
• System interference: seriously hindering or interrupting the functioning of a computer system or network without authorization.
• Misuse of devices: producing, selling, procuring or possessing devices or programs designed or adapted for committing cyber crimes.
• Computer-related forgery: inputting, altering, deleting or suppressing computer data with fraudulent intent.
• Computer-related fraud: causing a loss of property to another person by inputting, altering, deleting or suppressing computer data with fraudulent intent.

The Convention also covers other offences related to cyber crime, such as offences against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and systems; offences related to child pornography; offences related to infringements of intellectual property rights; and offences related to identity theft.

The penalties for cyber crime offences vary depending on the severity and impact of the crime. Generally speaking, the penalties can include fines, imprisonment, probation, community service, restitution or compensation. For example:

• In the United States, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) is the main federal law that deals with cyber crime. The CFAA prohibits unauthorized access to protected computers or networks for various purposes, such as obtaining information, damaging data or systems, committing fraud or extortion. The penalties for violating the CFAA can range from one year to 20 years in prison, depending on the nature and circumstances of the offence.
• In the United Kingdom, the Computer Misuse Act 1990 is the main law that deals with cyber crime. The Act criminalizes unauthorized access to computer material; unauthorized access with intent to commit or facilitate further offences; unauthorized acts with intent to impair or prevent access to data or programs; unauthorized acts causing serious damage; and making or supplying articles for use in committing cyber crimes. The penalties for violating the Act can range from six months to 14 years in prison, depending on the nature and circumstances of the offence.
• In India, the Information Technology Act 2000 is the main law that deals with cyber crime. The Act criminalizes various types of cyber crimes, such as hacking, identity theft, phishing, cheating by impersonation, sending offensive messages or images, tampering with computer source documents, breach of confidentiality or privacy, publishing obscene material, cyber terrorism, and child pornography. The penalties for violating the Act can range from three years to life imprisonment, depending on the nature and circumstances of the offence.

Cyber Crime Prevention Tips

While cyber crime laws and penalties are important tools to deter and punish cyber criminals, they are not enough to prevent cyber crime from happening in the first place. We all have a role to play in protecting ourselves and others from becoming victims of cyber crime. Here are some tips on how to prevent cyber crime:

• Use a full-service internet security suite: A good internet security software can help you protect your devices, online privacy, and identity from various types of cyber threats, such as viruses, malware, ransomware, spyware, phishing, and identity theft. Make sure you keep your software updated regularly.
• Use strong passwords: A strong password is one that is long, complex, and unique. It should include a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, and it should not be easy to guess or crack. You should also avoid using the same password for different accounts or websites, and change your passwords frequently. A password manager can help you create and store strong passwords securely.
• Never open attachments or click on links in spam emails or untrusted websites: Spam emails and phishing websites are common ways that cyber criminals try to trick you into revealing your personal or financial information, or downloading malicious software onto your device. Do not open any attachments or click on any links in emails or websites that look suspicious, unsolicited, or unfamiliar. Always verify the sender’s identity and the website’s URL before taking any action.
• Do not give out personal information unless secure: When you are online, be careful about what information you share and who you share it with. Do not provide any personal or financial information to anyone unless you are sure they are legitimate and trustworthy, and unless you are using a secure connection. A secure connection is one that uses encryption to protect your data from being intercepted or altered by third parties. You can tell if a connection is secure by looking for a padlock icon or a “https” prefix in the address bar of your browser.
• Contact companies directly about suspicious requests: Sometimes, cyber criminals may pretend to be someone you know or trust, such as a friend, family member, bank, or government agency, and ask you for personal or financial information or money. This is known as social engineering or impersonation. If you receive such a request, do not respond or comply immediately. Instead, contact the person or company directly using a different method or channel, such as phone or official website, and verify the authenticity of the request.
• Be mindful of which website URLs you visit: Some cyber criminals may create fake or spoofed websites that look like legitimate ones, but are designed to steal your information or infect your device with malware. To avoid falling for such scams, always check the URL of the website you are visiting carefully. Look for spelling errors, unusual characters, or domain extensions that do not match the original website. Also, avoid clicking on pop-ups, banners, or ads that appear on untrusted websites, as they may lead you to malicious sites or download unwanted software onto your device.

Conclusion

Cybercrime is a serious and growing problem that affects everyone who uses the internet. Cybercrime laws and penalties are necessary to combat cybercrime, but they are not sufficient. We also need to take preventive measures to protect ourselves and others from becoming victims of cybercrime. By following some simple tips, we can reduce the risk of cybercrime and enjoy the benefits of the internet safely and securely.

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Ghazala Siddique