Computer Crime Categories
Computer
As the Target : Crimes in which
the computer is the target include offenses such as theft of intellectual
property, theft of marketing information or blackmail based on information
gained from computerised files. Such crimes are done with the intent of creating
chaos in a business operations. Another crime, which targets the computer
directly is the unlawful access to criminal justice and other government
records. This action involves changing or deleting criminal records of
individuals. Crimes such as techno-vandalism, techno-trespass are also in this
category. All these crimes involve unauthorised access to computer results.
Computer
As the Instrumentality of the Crime :
In this category, the processes of the computer, no the contents of computer
files, facilitate the crime. The criminal introduces a new programming code to
manipulate the computer's analytical processes, thereby facilitating the crime.
Fraudulent use of automated teller machine (ATM) cards and accounts, theft of
money from accrual, conversion, or transfer accounts, credit card frauds are
some crimes in this category.
Computer
Is Incidental to Other Crimes :
Computer is not essential for the crime to occur but it is related to the
criminal act. Such crimes do not need computers however with the help of
computerisation, the crimes could be carried out faster and permit processing of
greater amounts of information to make the crimes untraceable. Examples of such
crimes are money laundering and bookmaking.
Crimes
Associated With the Prevalence of Computers :
The simple presence of computers generate new versions of fairly traditional
crimes. Technological growth creates new crime targets in these cases. Crimes
that fall into this category are software piracy, copyright violation of
computer programs etc.