The Importance Of Cybercrime On The Internet

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In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of the Internet, as a result of greater amounts of online information and knowledge, commerce, entertainment and social networking. According to the Global Village (2014), in 2014, 40.7% of the world’s population uses the Internet in contrast to 20% in 2007. However, as the rate of Internet use increases so do the rate of cybercrimes, that is, crimes committed via the Internet. A report by Norton, an antivirus software maker, in 2012 found that about 431million adults experienced cybercrime per year in 24 countries. The report also found that 69% of adults have experienced cybercrime in their lifetime and there has been a 3% rise in overall cybercrime compared to the 2010 survey. This essay will argue that legal and illegal access to personal information has resulted in an increase in the number of crimes committed, both online and offline.

Many cybercrimes, that is crimes committed online, continue to flourish because people unintentionally or carelessly leave sensitive information online. Cybercriminals are provided with new areas to exploit as well as new areas for recruitment as a result of the proliferation of social networking websites (Rush et al., 2009). There are many types of cybercrimes committed including fraud and scam, identity theft and also hacking via computer viruses or malware. A significant number of people become victims of online fraud and scam as a result of their lack of information about it and also through the process of sharing personal information. Frauds and scams usually involve deception so as to procure unlawful gain, most especially after trust is gained. In the UK alone, credit card fraud is estimated to have reached over £500 mill...

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...ts.com/emarketing.htm [Accessed 15 May 2014]
• National White Collar Crime Center (2011). Criminal use of social media. [online]. Available at:
[Accessed 15 May 2014].
• Norton (2012). Cybercrime Report. [online]. Available at: [Accessed on 16 May 2014].
• Rush H., et al. (2009).Crime Online: Cybercrime and illegal innovation. UK: Nesta.
• Shaw E., (2013) How To Avoid Falling Victim To Online ID Fraudsters. The Independent [online]. Available at: [Accessed 21 May 2014].
• Wolak J., et al. (2009). Online “Predators” and Their Victims: Myths, Realities, and Implications for Prevention and Treatment. American Psychologist, 2008;63, 116-118

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