A cybercrime incident is a serious breach that exposes sensitive data, cripples systems and causes disruption for victims. It can affect consumers, businesses and governments across the globe.
Hacking involves gaining unauthorized access to computer systems and networks by exploiting software vulnerabilities. While some hackers conduct research or seek out security weaknesses for ethical reasons, others act maliciously to steal information and disrupt systems for financial gain or political agendas.
A notable example is the Morris worm, which struck just one year after the World Wide Web debuted, infecting systems at universities, including Cornell, Princeton, Harvard and Johns Hopkins. More recently, a notorious ransomware attack called WannaCry caused worldwide disruption by encrypting files and demanding payment to restore access. A free decryption tool was quickly released to help limit the damage.
Other cybercriminal activities include espionage, infiltration and extortion. For instance, a Lithuanian cybercriminal was caught posing as an Asian manufacturer to trick Google and Facebook employees into wiring over $100 million to untraceable offshore bank accounts. In another case, a cyberespionage group hacked into the internal database of dating website Ashley Madison and leaked millions of users’ personal information online.
Increasingly, cybercriminals target small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) that have weaker cybersecurity defenses. This includes companies with remote workforces. For example, a single compromised supplier can impact thousands of downstream companies through a tactic known as supply chain attacks. In April, Sony Corporation disclosed that hackers compromised 77 million PlayStation Network users, stealing usernames and passwords, birthdates, answers to security questions and more.
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