Cybercrime As a Source of living in our generation: A Societal Norm that has worsened the culture and created a drastic menace.

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By: Muhammad Adam Apalando 

In the early 20th century, cybercrime became a disaster that threatened public safety and economic security. Victims experience anger, fear, and traumatic feelings that cause health or heart issues. This has caused a lot of people to lose their hard-earned money and properties. Cybercrime has caused traumatic health issues for victims in the United States and other white countries.

In this article, we will discuss more about cybercrimes, and what are they? How do they happen? Who are Cybercriminals? Also, we will demonstrate different types of cybercrimes and lots more.

What is Cybercrime?

Cybercrime encompasses a wide range of illegal/criminal activities carried with the aid of digital devices or network. These crimes involved the use of technology to commit fraud, Identity theft, data breaches, Scam and expanded upon in other malicious acts. 

Cybercrimes are committed by an individual or group targeting individual asset, data, identity theft. Sometimes it goes beyond targeting individual. Some experts of cybercrime enthusiasts targets business groups or government. 

Who are the Cybercriminals?

Cybercrimal is a person who uses his skills in technology to commit malicious acts/ illegal activities. Cybercrime goes beyond hacking alone but it involves identity fraud which is known as impersonation to fraud and acquire properties in such illegal form. 

In Nigeria, cybercrime is a popular and social norm among young people men and women. People of young ages indulge in this activity to make ends meet. This has dragged in a lot of social downfall, and threatened the public safety and economic security. 

The popular cybercrime here is impersonation. Youths tends to act or call themselves who they’re not to achieve their aims.

How do cybercrime happens?

Cybercriminals take advantage of security holes and vulnerabilities found in systems and exploit them in order to take a foothold inside the targeted environment. 

 

The security holes can be a form of using weak authentication methods and passwords, it can also happen for the lack of strict security models and policies.

Also, Cybercriminals take the advantage of faking identity. This can involve the person changing how they look, dress, talk, or act. It can also entail a person representing themselves with someone else's identity credentials, or even fabricating a false or synthetic identity.

Types of Cybercrime 

We have different types of cybercrimes, but we’d be talking of the common crimes that’s affecting our Country (Nigeria). Notably, cybercrimes are of different categories in Nigeria ranging from; Internet frauds, software piracy, hacking, online scam, ATM or Credit card fraud, virus dissemination, phishing, cyber-stalking, and cyber-defamation, Yahoo yahoo. 

1. Internet fraud: This is a type of cybercrime fraud which makes use of the Internet and could involve hiding of information or providing incorrect information for the purpose of tricking victims out of money, property, and inheritance. This is the most Common crime among the youths of Nigeria. It has become a rampant in every angle of the society.

2. Software piracy: This is the act of illegally using, copying, modifying, distributing, sharing, or selling computer software protected by copyright laws. A software pirate is anyone who intentionally or unintentionally commits these illegal acts.

3. Cyber defamation: It is also known as online defamation or internet defamation, refers to false and damaging statements made about a person or entity on the internet. With the increasing use of social media and online forums, cyber defamation has become a growing concern for individuals and businesses alike.

4. ATM fraud: This is basically the fraudulent activity of gaining illegal access to someone's ATM card and PIN to withdraw money from their account. 

Causes of Cybercrime 

There are many things that causes cybercrime. We’ll be discussing the major causes of it. 

1. Unemployment: Youth in the Nigerian context is a person between 18 and 35 years while unemployment refers to the state of being economically active and capable of work, but without a job. Therefore youth unemployment in this essay is used to describe the condition whereby the economically active youth labour force between 18 and 35 years are jobless. This is one of the major cause of unemployment as youths tends to source survival by indulging in fraud. 

2. Lack of parental care and guidance: Parents nowadays do not care about their children, who they meet with, their source of income, and lots more.

3. Religion leaders and their teachings: This is also one of the major factors that rapidly increases cybercrime. Many pastors and Islamic scholars have publicly preached on support for fraud and claim to have superpowers in assisting the fraudsters to control and have more access to victims properties.

4. Peer Group: This has affected many youth. Some of them don’t have the intention of committing fraud, but as soon as their colleagues are doing well, they’ll have no choice but to join the squad in committing fraud.

5. Lack of Social Education and Counseling: In this generation, educators and counselors are now fraud supporters. This led to a lack of personalities to stand against fraud, which worsened the social and educational systems.

6. Social Media: This has a great impact on promoting fraud. Many influencers, singers, and artists have motivated youths with their music and stage work by promoting songs that give better support to youths. As we all know, our youths are lovers of music, and music touches them more than educating words. This has an impact on the immortality we’re battling with.

Ways of Curbing Cybercrime

Based on the discussion above, it is recommended that the government pay dire attention to job creation. Social welfare schemes that target unemployed youths and give them access to job opportunities must be created. This should be done alongside improving human capital development through skills and training that enhance youths’ efficiency. In addition, strict anti-cybercrime laws must be implemented to discourage youth from engaging in cybercrime, while capital punishment should also be enforced to serve as a deterrent to others. More so, the government, through its media-related agencies, should regulate the activities of celebrities who promote criminality with their various works of art.

Furthermore, proper orientation must be given to youths on the negative effect of cybercrime (and other related crimes) on the Nigerian economy and image. Also, civil society organizations, particularly religious leaders, parents, and community leaders, should frown at cybercrime and dissuade themselves from praising youths who live above their means. Finally, the government should be sincere in alleviating poverty and improving the entrepreneurial capability of youths.

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