Cybercrime and Identity Theft

Cybercrime and Identity Theft

Brittany Myers

CJ 102

Maria Waters

March 23, 2015

Cybercrime is defined as a criminal activity that is done using computers and the internet. Cybercrime includes identity theft. This is when criminals use the Internet to steal personal information from other users. Phishing and pharming is the two most common ways that criminals use to steal information. Phishing and Pharming lures users to websites that do not exist and steal the user’s identity. People can protect themselves by using antivirus and spyware blocking software. They also need to be careful when they enter their personal information on the internet. Identity theft is a crime of obtaining the personal or financial information of another person. The sole purpose is to assume that person’s name or identity in order to make transactions or purchases. A person commits identity theft in many ways. Some will go through a person’s trash bins looking for bank accounts and credit cards statements. Identity theft can ruin a person’s credit rating.

Some factors that contribute to identity theft as well as cybercrime, since they are both linked together are: Readily available personal information that is on the internet and files that are easily accessible to dishonest employees or burglars. The time factor in which is that the crime is not discovered until after it has occurs. The opportunity of the offender. For instance, the place of the information, wallets, cars and homes. This also includes guardianship, which means that people carry their information on them and the criminals will pick pocket, mug them and even break into their vehicles to obtain the information. The theory that depicts this is the control theory.

In conclusion, people can protect themselves from identity theft and cybercrime by being careful of how they distribute their information. I might be best not to carry important information around with you. A person should shred all bank statements, unwanted...