Computer Crime Categories: How Techno-criminals Operate
(FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 1992)
Summary
Lines from the movie Sneakers, MCA/Universal Pictures, 1992, focused on computerised information as a valuable commodity and on the technological means to invade and steal that commodity. This scene in the movie is much more realistic than people had thought then.
Today, computer related crimes are increasing at a high rate. There are four general categories of computer crimes namely:
-
Computer
As the Target -
Computer
As the Instrumentality of the Crime -
Computer
Is Incidental to Other Crimes -
Crimes
Associated With the Prevalence of Computers
More often than not, during criminal transactions, these categories would overlap with each other due to the complexity of modern technology.
Internationally, while businesses make great use of unifying measures such as, unification of technology standards and open communications, so can the criminal.
Criminals have adapted to the fast-changing technology and more often than not, they far-outpaced ability of the police to respond effectively. Hence training of counter-criminal professionals has to be provided. Investigators must know the materials to search and seize, electronic evidence to recover and the chain of custody to maintain.
