NCJ Number
213505
Date Published
2001
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This chapter first identifies various types of computer-related crimes and their impact, along with the problems such crimes pose for criminologists, followed by an overview of the book's chapters.
Abstract
Computer-related or "cybercrime" can be categorized as types of crimes rather than specific offenses. One type is "hacking/cracking," which involves an unauthorized trespass into another person's or organization's computer system and its database. A second type of cybercrime involves the theft of information and money. As more and more transactions are being conducted electronically, thieves are being drawn to the Internet in efforts to intercept these transmissions and/or access financial accounts. Other types of cybercrime are piracy of new forms of intellectual property that have been created or popularized within cyberspace; pornography created for and transmitted over the Internet; and using the Internet to intimidate or harass other people. The consequences of cybercrimes are the same as those of traditional crimes, except different methods are used. More people are vulnerable to victimization because of the transnational character of the Internet and the expanded access criminals have to more victims. Cybercrimes also involve consequences related to the distinctive nature of computer characteristics, as people find that various elements of computer tools and environments that compose personal and business routines can come under attack. Problems in researching cybercrimes include a lack of statistics, the anonymity of victims and the underreporting of offenses, the development of offender profiles, crimes across jurisdictions, assessment of the extent and nature of the problem, and the political power struggle over control of the Internet. This chapter notes that this book brings together a collection of research that has been drawn from various jurisdictions and from a range of disciplines. 13 notes and 46 references