Defining Cyber Crime

Defining Cyber Crime

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) divides cybercrime into three categories:

• crimes in which the computing device is the target -- for example, to gain network access;

• crimes in which the computer is used as a weapon -- for example, to launch a denial-of-service (DoS) attack; and

• crimes in which the computer is used as an accessory to a crime -- for example, using a computer to store illegally obtained data.

The Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, to which the United States is a signatory, defines cybercrime as a wide range of malicious activities, including the illegal interception of data, system interferences that compromise network integrity and availability, and copyright infringements.

Cybercriminal activity may be carried out by individuals or small groups with relatively little technical skill or by highly organized global criminal groups that may include skilled developers and others with relevant expertise. To further reduce the chances of detection and prosecution, cybercriminals often choose to operate in countries with weak or nonexistent cybercrime laws.