Cyber Crimes | General Awareness for SSC CGL PDF Download

Introduction

Cyber crimes are criminal activities involving computers and digital systems. These crimes can range from traditional crimes like theft and fraud, to more complex activities involving the abuse of computer systems and networks. Understanding these different types of cyber crimes, their tools, and protective measures is crucial in today's digital world.

Cyber Crimes

Traditional Crimes in the Digital Age: Cyber crimes can include traditional criminal activities such as theft, forgery, defamation, and mischief, all of which fall under the Indian Penal Code. For example, someone might use a computer to forge documents or steal sensitive information.

Computer as a Target

This involves using a computer to attack other computers.
Examples include:

• Hacking: Unauthorized access to computer systems.
• Virus/Worm Attacks: Malicious programs that spread across networks.
• Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: Overloading a server to make it unavailable.

Computer as a Weapon

Computers can also be used to commit real-world crimes, such as:

• Cyber Terrorism: Using the internet to cause fear or disrupt national security.
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Violations: Unauthorized use or distribution of copyrighted material.
• Credit Card Fraud: Stealing credit card information to make unauthorized purchases.
• Electronic Fund Transfer Frauds: Misusing electronic methods to steal money.
• Pornography: Distributing illegal or explicit content online.

Computer Virus

A computer virus is a type of malware that replicates itself by inserting copies into other computer programs, data files, or the boot sector of the hard drive. Once replication succeeds, the infected areas are considered compromised.
Example: 

• Stuxnet: Discovered in June 2010, this worm specifically targets industrial control systems running on Microsoft Windows. It was designed to sabotage Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities by causing physical damage to the equipment.

Malware

Malware refers to malicious software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the user’s consent. Malware commonly spreads through the internet, especially via email or web downloads.

Types of Malware

• Botnets: Networks of infected computers controlled remotely to perform tasks, often malicious.
• Nagware/Begware/Annoyware: Software that repeatedly nags the user to pay for a full version.
• Trojan Horse: Malicious software disguised as legitimate programs.
• Web Crawlers/Spiders: Automated scripts that can be used for data mining, sometimes used for malicious purposes.
• Grayware: Software that is annoying but not necessarily harmful.
• Flame/Flamer/Skywiper/Skywlper: Advanced persistent threats with capabilities for espionage.
• Rootkits: Tools designed to hide the existence of certain processes or programs from normal detection methods.

Security Management

• Facial Recognition: This technology identifies or verifies individuals based on their facial features from digital images or video frames. It is often used in security systems for access control.
• Biometric Passport: Also known as an e-passport, it combines paper and electronic elements to include biometric data. This helps authenticate the identity of travelers more securely.
• Iris Recognition: This method uses video images of the iris, which has complex, unique patterns, for biometric identification. Iris recognition can be performed from a distance, making it a reliable security measure.
• Smart Card: A smart card, also known as a chip card or Integrated Circuit Card (ICC), is a plastic card embedded with integrated circuits. It can store data and is used for various security and identification purposes.