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Computer Crime Is Increasing

A report discussing the proposition that computer crime has increased
dramatically over the last 10 years.

Introduction

Computer crime is generally defined as any crime accomplished through special
knowledge of computer technology. Increasing instances of white-collar crime
involve computers as more businesses automate and the information held by the
computers becomes an important asset. Computers can also become objects of crime
when they or their contents are damaged, for example when vandals attack the
computer itself, or when a "computer virus" (a program capable of altering or
erasing computer memory) is introduced into a computer system.

As subjects of crime, computers represent the electronic environment in which
frauds are programmed and executed; an example is the transfer of money
balances in accounts to perpetrators' accounts for withdrawal. Computers are
instruments of crime when they are used to plan or control such criminal acts.
Examples of these types of crimes are complex embezzlements that might occur
over long periods of time, or when a computer operator uses a computer to steal
or alter valuable information from an employer.

Variety and Extent

Since the first cases were reported in 1958, computers have been used for most
kinds of crime, including fraud, theft, embezzlement, burglary, sabotage,
espionage, murder, and forgery. One study of 1,500 computer crimes established
that most of them were committed by trusted computer users within businesses i.e.
persons with the requisite skills, knowledge, access, and resources. Much of
known computer crime has consisted of entering false data into computers. This
method of computer crime is simpler and safer than the complex process of
writing a...