Cybercrime Flashcards
What is cybercrime?
It is criminal activity involving the internet, a computer, smartphone or other electronic devices.
What types of cybercrime are there?
Computer-integrity, computer-assisted and computer content.
Explain the 3 types of cybercrime.
Computer-integrity: crimes necessitating the presence of technology to be committed (hacking)
Computer-assisted: crimes traditionally done without technology, but can be helped utilising it.
Computer content: crimes made completely different through an online space (hate speech, child porn, obscenity)
What is the most common cybercrime?
Auction fraud, where goods delivered are fake, or not delivered at all. Goods might also be fenced (stolen) and sold, or shill bidding might occur.
Why do deterrence mechanisms fail in cyberspace?
Anonymity grants offenders lower likelihoods of being attributed blame and charged.
How does the routine activities theory come into play in cybercrime?
During COVID, people were forced to use technology, even the less tech-savvy, who became attractive targets. The socioeconomic stress brought by COVID led to more motivated offenders. Since the anonymity of cyberspace prevents guardianship, offenders took advantage of the situation.
How does differential association explain some cybercrimes?
Hacking is explained by how it is learnt within groups, through sharing of techniques. Piracy is learnt through similar peer groups, as well as online hate.
How does neutralisation and drift influence cybercrime?
Digital piracy is often justified, as well as hacking, through appeal of higher loyalties, where they believe they are doing it for the greater good, or denial of injury, where it is not harming anyone.
What is the 419 / Advanced Fee Scam?
It is a scam invented by Nigerians preying on stereotypes and people’s white saviour complex, seeking money to avoid corruption in Nigeria.
