Digital Computer Crime: Major Categories Of Computer Crimes

Assignment 1: Digital Computer Crime
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Assignment 1: Digital Computer Crime
Introduction
Computer crimes are among the many challenges facing the world in the 21st century. The society has witnessed an increase in computer crimes as a result of the latest advancements in information and communication technologies (ICTs). The term computer crime is synonymous with various terms, including e-crime, hi-tech crime, and cybercrime. It is construed differently by national security experts, criminologists, lawyers, police, and technical experts (Brown, 2015). As such, computer crimes lack a single definition. The definition of computer crime definition remains elusive due to the uncertainty on whether it refers to technological, legal, or sociological aspects of crime (Brown, 2015). However, there is a consensus among scholars that a computer crime entails the utilization of computer networks or Internet in perpetrating crimes, with the computer serving either as a target or means for committing the crime (Prasanthi & Ishwarya, 2015). This paper examines the four major categories of cybercrimes; the category presenting the greatest overall threat; the most common forms of digital crime; the responses and the role of law enforcement agencies, court systems, combating such crimes; as well as providing the necessary recommendation for counteracting computer crime.
Categories of Computer Crimes
Rayes, Brittson, O’Shea, and Steele (2011) classify computer crimes into four major categories: cyber-trespass, cyber-violence, cyber-thefts and deceptions, and cyber-pornography. Cyber-trespass involves crossing the boundaries into someone else’s property and/or creating damage (Rayes, Brittson, O’Shea & Steele, 2011). An individual is held liable for cyber-trespass if he or she is found guilty of intentionally disrupts, destroys, damages, deletes, alters, or accesses computer data, computer program, computer network, or computer system without authorization (USLegal, 2016). Computer hackers are most commonly associated with computer-trespass. While the legislation relating to computer-trespass vary from one state to another, they share a common element that such computer crime entails unauthorized access to a computer system or computer. For instance, viruses, defacement, and hacking all constitute computer-trespass.
Cyber-violence is also another category of computer crimes. It is defined as inflicting physical harm against or causing psychological harm to anyone and hence violating the laws relating to the person’s protection (Rayes, Brittson, O’Shea & Steele, 2011). Examples of cyber-violence include stalking and hate speech. Cyber-stalking is analogous to traditional stalking only that it employs ICTs as the medium and means of intimidating or harassing others (Visiu & Visiu, 2013). It refers to obsessively or persistently harassing an individual in a frightening, intimidating, tormenting, or alarming way. Cyber-stalking significantly overlaps with cyber-bullying and cyber-harassment.
Cyber-thefts and deceptions are the third categories of cybercrimes. It entails all ways that one may utilize to illegally acquire m...