Cyber crime in today’s world

By Harshal Sharma

In today’s world, cyber crime is a global issue affecting millions of people and businesses annually, involving illegal or malicious activities in computers, networks and digital devices. Some of the common types include hacking, phishing, ransomware, identity theft, fraud, and cyber espionage. Cyber attacks occur once in every 39 seconds, with 95% due to human error. In 2021, cyber crime cost the $6.9 billion(United States). An estimated 30,000 websites are hacked daily, with 43% targeting small businesses.

In 2023, some of the most damaging cyber attacks occurred, such as the Guardian Cyber Attack and the Toronto SickKids attack. The Live Cyber Threat Map displays real-time cyber attacks and the Global Cybercrime Report ranks countries most at risk of cyber crime.

To protect themselves from cyber crime, individuals and organizations can use strong passwords, install and update antivirus and firewall software, avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments, regularly back up important data, educate themselves about cyber crime trends, and report suspicious or fraudulent activity to authorities.

Cyber crime is a social and legal issue that requires cooperation and collaboration from various stakeholders, including governments, law enforcement agencies, cyber security experts, businesses, and civil society. By raising awareness and taking action, we can contribute to making the cyber space safer and more secure for everyone.