1. Cyber Crime Today we will look at: Different types of cyber-crime
The Computer Misuse Act
Other computer-related laws
Some facts about cyber crime
How to avoid getting into trouble

2. Different Types of Cyber Crime
The police refer to two different types of cyber crime:
Cyber-enabled crime – these are traditional types of crime, such as theft and fraud, but done using a computer.
Cyber-dependent crime – these are new types of crime that can only be done with a computer.
One of the problems with new types of crime is that they’re not always covered by existing laws.

3. Examples of Cyber-Dependent Crime
Here are some examples of the sorts of things that could get you into trouble:
Creating/spreading viruses, worms and trojans
Creating spyware
Hacking
Sending spam/junk mail
Getting involved with denial of service attacks
Creating botnets (networks of infected computers)

4. Computer Misuse Act
The Computer Misuse Act was created in 1990 after two teenagers hacked the Duke of Edinburgh’s account and it was discovered that they hadn’t committed an offence.
It makes the following things illegal:
Unauthorised access to computer material
Unauthorised access with intent to commit (or help commit) further offences
Unauthorised acts causing, or creating the risk of, serious damage
Making, supplying or obtaining articles for use in another CMA offence

5. Examples of Offences These things are all offences (i.e. illegal):
Watching your friend put their password into their phone and then using it to look at (or download) their photos
Accessing your friend’s phone without permission and using their bank details to transfer money
Using a “booter” tool to knock a friend offline from an only game (“stressers” are also illegal)
Hacking into a government computer and being reckless as to the consequences, undermining National Security
Downloading a tool to send malware to a friend’s computer so that you can control it. You didn’t actually use it.
Are you surprised that any of these are offences?

6. Facts about Cyber Crime
Here are some facts about Cyber Crime that might also surprise you:
A typical investigation lasts two years
The average age of the people arrested is 17
90% of the people arrested are on the autistic spectrum
Gaming is often a “gateway” into cyber crime – people start with “booters” and “stressers”
Often the people arrested don’t know that they have committed a crime
There is often no “motivation” – people aren’t sure why they did it

7. The Four Ps Protect – making sure that we are all aware of the risks
Prepare – taking steps to make sure that we can withstand a cyber attack, e.g. by backing up our data
Pursue – investigating crime and an catching the criminals
Prevent – stopping people from getting involved in cyber crime
This is something that we can all help with, by advising family and friends of the dangers
There are legal alternatives – e.g. working in cyber security
Have a look at the “cyber choices” film that I have set as an assignment.