Digital Computer Crime
Matthew Moeller
Dr. Neal Basta
CIS170
April 21, 2015

Computer crimes are criminal activities that involve using a computer and a network to gain unauthorized access with the intent of deleting, altering, or damaging computer data. Due to them being extremely versatile, establishing criminal and noncriminal behavior when in use can be very difficult at times. The four most common categories of computer crimes are computer as a target, instrument of a crime, incidental to a crime, and prevalence. Computers can be the target of a criminal activity, a storage place for data about a criminal activity or the actual tool used to commit a crime. One of the most publicized crimes targeting computers involves unleashing a virus through email. A virus is a computer program that disrupts or destroys existing computer systems. A virus spreads rapidly around the world destroying computer files and costing companies and individuals millions in downtime or when the computers networks are shutdown. Most viruses are released by hackers as pranks. A hacker is someone who gains unauthorized access to a specific system. Sometimes hackers may target law enforcement or military computers and read or copy sensitive information. Some are concerned that terrorists will unleash viruses to cripple computer systems that control vital transportation networks. By using the computer as the instrument of a crime means that some other criminal objective is gained. Just like in the real world where a criminal can steal and rob, even in the cyber world criminals resort to stealing and robbing. In this case, they can steal a person’s bank details and money, misuse the credit card to make numerous purchases online, run a scam to get naïve people to part with their hard earned money, use malicious software to gain access to an organization’s website or disrupt the systems of the organization. The malicious software can also damage software and hardware, just like vandals damage property in the offline world. Incidental refers to the computer as a way to maintain the information of the crime. This type of cybercrime can be in the form of cyber stalking, distributing pornography, and trafficking. Today, law enforcement agencies are taking this category of cybercrime very seriously and are joining forces internationally to reach and arrest the perpetrators. Government not as common as the other categories, crimes against a government are referred to as cyber terrorism. If successful, this category can wreak havoc and cause panic amongst the civilian population. In this category, criminals hack government websites, military websites or circulate propaganda. The perpetrators can be terrorist outfits or unfriendly governments of other nations. (Robert, 2015)
Some of the most common forms of digital crime include child pornography, cyberstalking, and spam. Child pornography is pornography that exploits children for sexual stimulation and may be produced with the direct involvement or sexual assault of a child. Cyberstalking is a crime in which the attacker harasses a victim using electronic communication, such as e-mail, or messages posted to a Web site. A cyber stalker relies upon the anonymity afforded by the Internet to allow them to stalk their victim without being detected. An example of this would the heart wrenching story of Amanda Todd was a teenage girl that committed suicide after a cyber-stalker found a picture of her and posted to web sites. (Bonnie, 2011) Spam is flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it. Most spam is commercial advertising, often for products, get-rich-quick schemes, or legal services. Spam costs the sender very little to send most of the costs are paid for by the recipient or the carriers rather than by the sender.
Today’s world is more intense than ever before. Yet, for all its advantages, increased connectivity brings increased risk of theft, fraud, and abuse. As Americans we have become more reliant on modern technology, we also have become more vulnerable to cyberattacks such as corporate security breaches, spear phishing, and social media fraud.

Complementary cybersecurity and law enforcement capabilities are critical to safeguarding and securing cyberspace. Law enforcement performs an essential role in achieving our Nation’s cybersecurity objectives by investigating a wide range of cybercrimes, from theft and fraud to child exploitation, and apprehending and prosecuting those responsible. (Moore, 2005)The Department of Homeland Security works with other federal agencies to conduct high-impact criminal investigations to disrupt and defeat cyber criminals, prioritize the recruitment and training of technical experts, develop standardized methods, and broadly share cyber response best practices and tools. Criminal investigators and network security experts with deep understanding of the technologies malicious actors are using and the specific vulnerabilities they are targeting work to effectively respond to and investigate cyber incidents.

References
Bonnie, Z. (2011). Cyber-Stalking Obessional Pursuit and the Digital Criminal . Chicago : Smith Publishing .
Moore, R. (2005). Cybercrime: A World of Crime . Cleveland: Anderson .
Robert, T. (2015). Classification of Computer Crime. In T. Robert, Digital Crime and Digital Terrorism (pp. 12-16). Boston : Pearsons.