Cyber Crime And The Role Of Social Media

The faster we are moving towards the digital world, the faster the number of cyber crimes is also increasing. At the same pace at which technology has progressed, man’s dependence on the Internet has also increased. Sitting at one place, human access through the Internet has become easier to every corner of the world. In today’s time, everything about which a person can think can be accessed through the Internet, such as – social networking, online shopping, data storing, gaming, online study, online job, etc. In today’s time, Internet is used in almost every field.

The concept of cybercrime has also evolved with the development of the Internet and its associated benefits. Currently a large population of India uses social networking sites. There is a lack of information among people about the use of social networking sites in India. Along with this, the servers of most of the social networking sites are in foreign countries, due to which it is difficult to reach the root of cyber crimes in India.

Cyber crime, its types, preventive measures and provisions made by the government will be discussed in this article. Along with this, the role of social networking sites in cyber crime will also be evaluated.

What Is Cyber Crime?

Cyber crimes are committed in various forms. A few years ago there was a lack of awareness about crimes committed through the Internet. In matters of cyber crime, India is also not behind those countries where the rate of incidents of cyber crime is increasing day by day. In cyber crime cases a cyber criminal may use a device to damage user personal information, confidential business information, government information, or a device. Selling or purchasing the above information online is also a cyber crime.

There is no doubt that this is a criminal activity, which is carried out through the use of computers and the Internet. Cyber crime, also known as “electronic crime”, is a crime in which a computer, network, device, or network is used as an object or device to commit any crime. While crimes are committed through them (computers, networks, devices or networks), crimes are also committed against them targeting them.

Such crimes include a wide range of activities including cyber extortion, identity theft, credit card fraud, hacking personal data from computers, phishing, illegal downloading, cyber stalking, virus spread. It is noteworthy that software theft is also a form of cyber crime, in which it is not necessary that the cyber criminal commits the crime only through the online portal.

Classification Of Cyber Crime

According to cyber experts, the category of crime can be divided into two classes –

1.Crimes in which computers are attacked.

Examples of such crimes are: hacking, virus attacks, etc.

2.Crimes in which a computer is used as a weapon/equipment.

These types of crimes include cyber terrorism, intellectual property rights (IPR) violations, credit card fraud, pornography, etc.

Categories Of Cyber Crime

There are three major categories under cyber crime – crimes against individuals, property and government.

1.Cyber crimes against a particular person:

Crimes that happen online, but affect real life. These crimes include cyber harassment, cyber stalking, distribution of child pornography, various types of spoofing, credit card fraud, human trafficking, identity theft and online defaming. Malicious or illegal information is leaked online against any person or group in this category.

2. Cybercrime against property:

Some online crimes target property, such as attacking computers or servers or committing crimes by using them as mediums. These crimes include hacking, virus transmission, cyber and typo squatting, copyright infringement, intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement, etc.

Example – if someone sends you a web link, after clicking on which a web page opens, where you are asked for information related to your bank account or confidential documents and are told that this information is being sought by RBI or the government. Yes, and you share this information After which your account is compromised — then it will be called cyber attack against property.

3. Cybercrime against the government:

This is considered the most serious cyber crime. Such crimes committed against the government are also known as cyber terrorism. Government cyber crime involves hacking a government website or military website. When a cyber crime is committed against the government, it is considered an attack on the sovereignty of the nation and an act of war. Such criminals are often terrorists or governments of enemy countries. Strict cyber laws have been made by the government of every country to control these types of cyber crimes.

Role Of Social Media

The population using social networking sites on a large scale is unaware of the dangers of cyber crime. The servers of various social networking sites are located in other countries, due to which there is a fear that those countries may misuse people’s personal information.

People share their personal information on various social networking sites, due to which hackers easily hack the accounts of these sites and then misuse the information received. Hackers make people victims of online fraud on social networking sites.

It has also been detected by security agencies that funding is provided to terrorist and anti-national elements through various applications that transfer currency online. Apart from this, cyber criminals also encourage children to commit crimes through various online games.

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