Internet Crimes
Along with the plethora of benefits that it offers, Internet services also have a hidden potential for harm. Anyone can access internet free of cost and get almost any information he or she requires. You only have to have a high speed internet or broadband connection. But in this cyber world, unknown to many, there are plenty of secrets and dangerous zones. Some of them are listed below:
• Hacking
• Cyber Stalking
• Child Pornography
• Internet Fraud
• Software Piracy
• Cyber Terrorism
There are many more like these. Normally, hacking is done by sending you a file and tempting you to download it. If you download it, a Trojan is installed in your hard disk. It will do the spy work and send information about files to the hacker. One way to prevent is not to open the strange files. A second method is to use an old dummy computer to open suspicious mail. A third method is to install an anti-virus, firewall and anti-spy-ware solution.
Cyber stalking is threatening or harassing victims using e-mail and other electronic communication channels. Normally, the stalker happens to be a man and the victim a woman. To avoid, this first thing you have to do is to make a habit of visiting only safe sites. When talking to a person online, make sure you speak only those words, which will not be wrongly interpreted. If a personal meeting is arranged with an online acquaintance take another person whom you can trust with you. Tell the stalker you are not interested. If it does not stop there, then report to the police.
Child pornography is a multibillion business today. It is actually a sexual abuse of the child. Child pornography is perpetrated by films showing sexually explicit activities involving children. There is a group of people who argue that the crime of child abuse is reduced by such internet sites. Their argument is that the pedophiles will be satisfied with the pictures. But the fact remains that the children are abused for taking the pictures and many people are using these pictures for “grooming” other children. Police forces all over the world and the Interpol are doing their best to prevent this.
Internet frauds include online auctions, lotteries, Nigerian money offers, phishing, sweepstakes and advance fee for loans. In fraudulent auctions you are made to pay unbelievably low prices and the goods are never delivered. In lotteries and sweepstakes you are informed that you have won some prizes and asked to pay a small amount to claim it. Nigerian money offers are now notorious in which you are promised to be paid big amounts in exchange of a payment of a small transfer fee in advance. Phishing is obtaining your personal information like credit card number, pausing as genuine credit providers. Another way is to demand advance fee for arranging large loans. The best way to escape these frauds is not fall in their traps.
When unauthorized persons use any software, the developer of the software does not get his dues. Additionally such software may contain virus also. Cyber terrorism is aiming at disrupting the information system.
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