Computer Crimes

Computer Crimes

            Definition: the act of using a computer to commit an illegal act

–   Authorized and unauthorized computer access

–   Examples

·     Stealing time on company computers

·     Breaking into government Web sites

·     Stealing credit card information

            Federal and State Laws

–   Stealing or compromising data

–   Gaining unauthorized computer access

–   Violating data belonging to banks

–   Intercepting communications

–   Threatening to damage computer systems

–   Disseminating viruses

            Hacking and Cracking

–   Hacker – one who gains unauthorized computer access, but without doing damage

–   Cracker – one who breaks into computer systems for the purpose of doing damage

1 Types of computer crime

Data diddling: modifying data

Salami slicing: skimming small amounts of money

Phreaking: making free long distance calls

Cloning: cellular phone fraud using scanners

Carding: stealing credit card numbers online

Piggybacking: stealing credit card numbers by spying

Social engineering: tricking employees to gain access

Dumpster diving: finding private info in garbage cans

Spoofing: stealing passwords through a false login page

Software piracy

–   North America – 25%

–   Western Europe – 34%

–   Asia / Pacific – 51%

–   Mid East / Africa – 55%

–   Latin America – 58%

–   Eastern Europe – 63%

            Computer viruses and destructive code

–   Virus – a destructive program that disrupts the normal functioning of computer systems

–   Types:

·     Worm: usually does not destroy files; copies itself

·     Trojan horses: Activates without being detected; does not copy itself

·     Logic or time bombs: A type of Trojan horse that stays dormant for a period of time before activating