Cyber Crimes and Cyber Laws

As more of our lives and business move online, criminals also use computers and the Internet to commit offences. Cyber crime is any crime that is committed using a computer, a network, or the Internet — either against a computer system or by using a computer as a tool.

Common cyber crimes.

• Hacking — gaining unauthorised access to someone's computer, account, or network to steal, change, or damage data.
• Phishing — sending fake e-mails or messages that pretend to be from a bank or trusted body to trick users into revealing passwords, card numbers, or other secret information.
• Identity theft — stealing someone's personal details to impersonate them, often to commit fraud.
• Online / financial fraud — cheating people through fake shopping sites, fake job or lottery offers, or unauthorised money transfers.
• Cyberbullying and cyberstalking — harassing, threatening, or defaming a person online.
• Spreading viruses and other malware, or launching attacks that shut down a website or service.
• Software piracy — illegally copying, using, or selling copyrighted software.

Cyber law and the Information Technology Act. Cyber law is the body of law that deals with the use of computers, the Internet, and electronic data — covering online transactions, electronic records, cyber crimes, and their punishments. In India, the main cyber law is the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act, 2000). Its main purposes are to:

• give legal recognition to electronic records and digital signatures, so that documents and contracts made electronically are valid in law;
• provide for secure electronic transactions, supporting e-commerce and e-governance;
• define various cyber crimes (such as hacking, tampering with data, and identity fraud) and lay down penalties and punishments for them.

The Act has been amended over time to cover newer offences. Alongside the law, everyone should follow cyber ethics — the right and responsible way to behave online: respecting others' privacy and property, not using pirated software, not spreading false or harmful content, and protecting one's own and others' data. …