Cybercrime: How It Happens and How to Prevent It

In recent years, we have witnessed a significant shift in the social and business dynamics of the world due to digital transformations. Increasingly, transactions and services are being mediated through the internet, which, for malicious minds, means more targets and more opportunities for cybercrimes.

With the growing volume of data in the digital environment, cybercrimes have become an escalating concern for governments, businesses, and individuals alike. In this scenario, everyone is exposed to threats.

Proof of this is that, in 2022, there was a 38% increase in the number of cyberattacks compared to 2021, according to a survey conducted by Check Point Software.

Want to understand how cybercrimes happen, their types, and how to prevent them? Continue reading this article to dive deeper into the subject!

What is Cybercrime?

Cybercrimes—also known as cybercrimes—are any illegal activities conducted through electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and computer networks.

Typically, cybercrimes aim to harm and/or gain financial advantages, personal, and confidential information from others.

Additionally, these crimes can be committed by individuals or organized groups, leading to severe consequences such as data loss, interruption of online services, financial damage, and reputational harm.

What Laws Define Cybercrimes?

In Brazil, the General Data Protection Law (LGPD) is one of the primary regulations governing digital practices, with the main objective of ensuring data protection. The LGPD mandates that companies handling personal information comply with data protection and privacy standards to prevent damage from cybercrimes.

Additionally, Brazil has the Internet Civil Framework Law (2014), which sets guidelines on how the state should act on networks, and the Carolina Dieckmann Law (2012), which establishes penalties for cybercrimes.

Main Types of Cybercrimes

• Crimes Against Confidentiality: Aimed at obtaining confidential information without the owner's authorization.
• Crimes Against Integrity: Cybercrimes that aim to alter, modify, or damage data and systems.
• Crimes Against Availability: These crimes generally seek to interrupt or prevent legitimate access to systems.
• Electronic Frauds: Involve obtaining money or privileged information through fraudulent schemes.
• Intellectual Property Crimes: These involve violations of copyright, patents, or trademarks.
• Crimes Against People: Involve threats, harassment, or violence against individuals or groups.
• Transnational Cybercrimes: Usually involve criminal activities across different countries.

Examples of Cybercrimes

Among the main types, there are some examples of cybercrimes that are more frequently targeted at individuals and businesses. Check them out:

• Identity Theft
• Cyber Espionage
• Theft of Financial Information and/or Assets
• Leakage of Confidential Information
• Credential Fraud
• Privacy Invasion
• Theft and Sale of Corporate Data
• Ransomware Attack
• Theft of Personal Data
• Cyberbullying
• Cyber Extortion
• Piracy
• Data Hijacking

How Do Cybercrimes Happen?

Cybercrimes can occur in various ways because there are numerous digital traps that can open the doors of a system or device, allowing the crime to happen. Here are some examples:

• Phishing

In this type of attack, criminals use traps to trick people into clicking on fraudulent links—literally like digital fishing.

These links typically appear in emails, SMS, or social media messages that seem legitimate but are designed to deceive users into disclosing confidential information and access to cybercriminals.

• Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware that acts like data kidnapping by encrypting user files, making them inaccessible to their owners.

Ransomware can spread quickly across computer networks, encrypting files on multiple devices and servers, blocking access, and, consequently, forcing the payment of a ransom.

• Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks

DDoS attacks involve sending excessive traffic to a specific server or website, overloading it and thus making it inaccessible to legitimate users.

Typically, DDoS attacks are carried out through a network of infected devices known as a botnet, controlled by cybercriminals.

• Malware

The term malware covers different types of cyberattacks involving malicious software, such as viruses, worms, and Trojans.

The goal of these attacks is to infect computers or other devices to steal information and/or control the device remotely.

How to Protect Your Business from Cybercrimes?

As you can see, cybercrimes pose a significant risk to the integrity of businesses. Given this scenario, here are 4 practical tips to help make your business more secure against cybercrimes:

• Employee Training: No cybersecurity measure is 100% effective without employees being properly trained in best practices for cybersecurity and privacy.

It is essential to provide content that reinforces good practices for keeping the company's system secure, such as not sharing confidential passwords, being cautious with suspicious links, and using company devices only for work.

• Keep Your Systems Updated: Keeping your systems updated helps prevent new threats from accessing your systems. This way, you can fix vulnerabilities and avoid your system becoming outdated with new attack techniques.
• Access Control: Clearly define who can access what within your company, allowing for better control over who has access to confidential data. Additionally, continuous monitoring of these credentials is necessary.
• Have an Effective Security System: Besides all these tips, it is crucial that your security system is strong against cyber threats, preventing possible breaches.

A robust security system acts like an immune system for your systems, so it is vital to keep it resilient and free from potential vulnerabilities.

One way to keep your systems secure is with Bug Bounty, which functions as a reward program for identifying potential vulnerabilities in company systems.

This way, you can identify and fix security gaps, making your system stronger and preventing cybercrimes against your business.

Liked this content? Want to learn more about how Bug Bounty can help you avoid being an easy target for cybercrimes? Click this link and talk to BugHunt.