Facts about Internet Crime

The advent of the internet increased crime as well as changed the ways in which criminals commit their crimes. It is important to understand the most common crimes that are perpetrated on the internet in order to avoid becoming a victim as well as to avoid participating in them.

Perhaps the most common type of internet crime is music, film, and digital media piracy. File sharing websites make it easy to illegally share and download files without purchasing them. Downloading copyrighted material in this manner is illegal, yet millions of people around the world participate in it. They download the files and place them on their MP3 players, or burn them to CD R music discs or DVD R media. The sheer numbers of people downloading these files as well as the shifting nature of the internet make prosecution difficult.

Child pornography is also a common internet crime. Although most countries around the world prohibit the viewing or storing of child pornography, new sites crop up every day. In many cases, finding and prosecuting offenders is difficult.

Another crime that has developed online is tricking children into meeting adults offline. These adults may pose as other children. When the child meets the adult, they may be molested or even kidnapped. Parents should closely monitor their children's online activity and notify the police if they suspect that their child is being lured by an adult.

Identity theft is another common crime. Virtually all of your personal information is stored somewhere online, making it easy for hackers to steal if they know where to look. While completely preventing identity theft may be impossible, you can help to prevent it by only sharing your personal information with trusted sites.

Finally, cyber terrorism is another crime that has developed online. Hackers take down complex security systems and leave vital information vulnerable. Many state and national governments are tasked to prevent these crimes and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

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