CYBER-CRIMES

This article contains a brief concept of cybercrimes along with its prescribed punishment under Information Technology Act, 2000

 

CYBER-CRIMES

 

In the modern era, use of computers has made a significant change to society and lifestyle of individuals. The world is gaining much by the use of computers and internet and all sorts of information is now within the grip of every individual and same can be accessed within a moment just by pressing some keys of a computer. At the same time, there is a massive increase in the cybercrime.

 

WHAT IS CYBERCRIME?

 

Cybercrime means any criminal act carried out with the aid of computers, mobile, tables, internet etc. Cybercrime also includes traditional and modern crimes conducted by the use of information technology. Hate crimes, telemarketing fraud, internet fraud, identity theft, and credit account thefts etc. are considered to be the most common cybercrimes. In other words, cybercrimes are those crime which involve any device like a computer, laptop, smartphone etc. and a network. In some cases, such devices may be used to commit the crime, and in other cases, the devices may be the target of the crime.

 

KINDS OF CYBERCRIMES:

 

There are different types of cybercrime such as hacking, theft, stalking, identity theft, malicious software etc.

 

Hacking is a type of crime wherein a person’s computer is broken into so that his personal or sensitive information can be accessed. In hacking, the criminal uses a variety of software to enter a person’s computer and the person may not be aware that his computer is being accessed from a remote location. In Theft a person violates copyrights and downloads music, movies, games and software etc. There are even peer sharing websites which encourage software piracy. Stalking is a kind of online harassment wherein the victim is subjected to a stream online messages and emails. Identity Theft is related to internet-to-internet transaction and internet banking. In this cybercrime, a criminal accesses data about a person’s bank account, credit cards, social security, debit card etc. to draw off money or to buy things online in the victim’s name. it can result in major financial losses for the victim. Malicious Software is internet-based software or programme that is used to disrupt a network. The software is use to gain access to a system to steal sensitive information or data or cause damages to software present in the system.

 

PUNISHMENT FOR CYBERCRIME:

 

The Information Technology Act 2000 has been enacted in India to control cybercrimes. Under this Act certain violations are treated as serious crimes and offenders are liable to penal actions.

 

Dishonestly taking access into a computer or computer system without the permission of the owner or downloading copies, extract any data or computer database may be punished with imprisonment of three years and with fine up to Rs. 5 lakhs. Similar punishment also provided for dishonestly introducing any computer contamination or computer virus into a computer or computer network of for damaging any computer, computer system or network, data, database or any other programme of the computer. Fraudulently making use of any electronic signature, password or any other unique identification feature of any other person has been made publishable with imprisonment up to 3(three) years and also with fine up to Rs. 1 lakh. For cheating by personating by means of any communication devices or computer resource also, similar punishment has been prescribed. For violation of privacy of any person, the prescribed punishment of imprisonment is 3 (three) years but the amount of fine can extent up to Rs. 2 (two) lakhs. The punishment prescribed for transmitting obscene materials is imprisonment up to 3 (three) years and with fine up to Rs. 5 (five) lakhs for first offence and for subsequent offence imprisonment up to 5 (five) years and fine up to Rs. 10 (ten) lakhs. Punishment for committing cyber terrorism may be for life.