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What is Cybercrime?

Cybercrime is often known as a computer or technology related crime in layman's language. It is a crime that takes place through a server or network-connected devices. Most cybercrimes involve computers as an instrument through which the crime is committed. They also play a pivot role in crimes such as child pornography, hate crimes or in hacking and spamming cases.

The person who commits cybercrime is known as a cybercriminal. Cybercriminals' most commonly committed crimes include online bank information theft, money fraud, identity theft, online predatory crimes, and unauthorized access. Such criminals are often called hackers.

Cybercriminals are increasing every day as the growing age of digitalization makes committing a crime on the other side of the globe very easy. It also presents slim chances of being identified or getting caught.

The threat of cybercrimes is not only limited to individuals but also hits the national government because confidential data reaches to the systems increasingly, which make the national security vulnerable. Therefore, it is highly essential to look for ways to stop cybercrime permanently. Stricter laws should be implemented to punish cybercriminals.

The most dangerous cybercrimes are cyber-terrorism, which mostly involve cross-border crimes targeted at a particular nation, or crimes against a specific community which targets women, religion, or the LGBTQ community. A recent survey states that approximately $600 billion, nearly one per cent of global GDP, is lost to cybercrime every year.

Laws that govern cybercrime

To fight with the constant rise of cybercrime and to eliminate it ultimately, there are specific governing laws. These laws are called cybercrime-laws (or cyber laws) and deal with all kinds of computer crime, internet crime, information crimes, communications crimes and technology crimes. Cybercrime laws are laws that create offences and penalties for cybercrimes.

Cyber laws in India come under the Information Technology Act, 2000. Any cybercrime that involves theft, fraud, forgery, defamation is illegal and subject to the Indian Penal Code. The IT Act was amended in 2008 to cover all times of cybercrimes that are taking place.

Cyber laws are essential to everybody because, in this new generation of technological advancements, cybercrime is a global problem. And it can only be checked by proper legislation. The IT Act protects Indian internet users from several cybercrimes, and it has changed rules and regulations to make cybercrime a punishable offence.

Before the IT Act, it wasn't even possible to prove that a crime was committed on the internet because it lacked physical evidence needed to enforce a law. Given below is a list of changes that the IT Act has made to offer the cyber world the required legal framework.

1. The IT Act, 2000 has made email a valid form of communication in India, and it can be legally produced and approved in a court of law anywhere in the country.
2. It provided a legal infrastructure for companies following which they could carry out electronic transactions and all kinds of e-commerce.
3. Digital signatures are now considered legal and have been given authorization by the Act.
4. The Act also allows the government to use the internet for official announcements and notification thus paving the way for e-governance.
5. The Act has allowed corporate companies to do a business of being Certifying Authorities for issuing Digital Signatures Certificates.
6. The Act further allows the companies to "file any form, application or any other document with any office, authority; body or agency owned or controlled by the appropriate Government in electronic form by means of such electronic form as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government."
7. The IT Act has laid down rules and regulations for maintaining a high level of security for the proper use of electronic transactions. It defines the legal structure of secure digital signatures that need to be approved by a system of the security procedure, as specified by the Government
8. The IT Act gives the corporate sector legal background, remedy and backup in case someone breaks into their computer systems or network and causes damages or copies data. The Act does not provide a solution for a monetary loss exceeding Rs. 1 crore.

How to reduce cybercrime?

Cybercrime is a major global problem that keeps increasing every year. And thus it is the responsibility of the government to stop it once and for all before it causes severe harm to the country's security that can cause anarchy. More effective and stricter laws should be implemented to keep a check on cybercriminals, and they should be punished severely to make sure this does not spread.

By the time the government introduces safer reforms, it would be better for an individual to be safe than be sorry later. Given below is a list of measures that should be taken to prevent cybercrime.

1. A person should not disclose his/her personal information publicly on websites as it may lead to frauds, forgery and theft.
2. Sending photographs or private content to strangers should be avoided as it may be misused and might lead to a blackmailing incident.
3. Credit card or debit card details should not be given on any unsecured site as it may lead to fraud.
4. Update Anti-virus definitions regularly as insecure use of the internet has led to the theft of information in many cases. 
5. Parents should keep a check on their children to make sure that they are not getting bullied.

If the government and people take appropriate steps then eliminating cybercrime isn't as impossible as it seems. People should be aware of what's wrong for them and how they can protect themselves. As it is rightly said, 'Prevention is better than cure.'