Cyber Bullying

BY- UTKARSH MEHRA

Introduction: -

Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that takes place online or through digital communication technology. It involves the use of electronic devices such as phones, computers, or tablets to harass, intimidate, or humiliate someone. Cyberbullying can take many forms, including sending threatening or abusive messages, spreading rumors or lies online, posting embarrassing photos or videos, and creating fake social media profiles to impersonate or mock someone.

WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING ?

The term “cyberbullying” has been used to describe a number of different concepts of varying levels of specificity. Occasionally, and at its absolute broadest, the term has been used to refer to any type of illegal activities which results in a pecuniary loss. This includes violent crimes against a person or their property such as armed robbery, vandalism, or blackmail. At its next broadest, the term has been used to refer only to nonviolent crimes that result in a pecuniary loss. This would include crimes where a financial loss was an unintended consequence of the perpetrator’s actions, or where there was no intent by the perpetrator to realize a financial gain for himself or a related party. For example, when a perpetrator hacks into a bank’s computer and either accidentally or intentionally deletes an unrelated depositor’s account records. 

CATEGORIES OF CYBERBULLYING  :-

Phishing :-

Is the act of attempting to trick customers into disclosing their personal security

information; their credit card numbers, bank account details, or other sensitive information by masquerading as trustworthy businesses in an e-mail. Their messages may

ask the recipients to “update,” “validate,” or “confirm” their account information.

Phishing becomes the most commonly used social engineering attack to date due

to the fact that it is quite easy to be carried out, no direct communication between

hacker and victim is required (i.e., hacker does not need to phone their prey, pretending that they are a technical support staff, etc.). Sending mass-mails to thousands of

potential victims increases the chance of getting someone hooked. There are usually

three separate steps in order for such attacks to work, these are:

1. Setting up a mimic web site.

2. Sending out a convincingly fake e-mail, luring the users to that mimic site.

3. Getting information then redirect users to the real site. 

SPAM :-

• Failure to disclose relevant information about a product or the terms of sale.

Another form of Cybercrime is spam mail, which is arguably the most profound

product of the Internet’s ability to place unprecedented power into the hands of a

single person. Spam mail is the distribution of bulk e-mails that advertise products,

services or investment schemes, which may well turn out to be fraudulent. The purpose of spam mail is to trick or con customers into believing that they are going to

receive a genuine product or service, usually at a reduced price. However, the spammer asks for money or sensible security information like credit card number or other

personal information before the deal occur. After disclosing their security information the customer will never hear from the spammer.

In April 2012, political spams were back in action targeting primarily US and

French population. The complex situation in Syria has also become the subject of

spam e-mails too.

In 2012, USA was in second place after India for spam origination with China

ranked as number 5.

 

HACKING :-

Hacking is one of the most widely analyzed and debated forms of cyber-criminal

activity, and serves as an intense focus for public concerns about the threat that such

activity poses to society. The clear-cut definition of hacking is “the unauthorized access and subsequent use of other people’s computer systems”.

The early hackers had a love of technology and a compelling need to know how it

all worked, and their goal was to push programs beyond what they were designed to

do. The word hacker did not have the negative connotation as it has today.

The attacks take place in several phases such as information gathering or reconnaissance, scanning and finally entering into the target system. Information gathering

involves methods of obtaining information or to open security holes. It is just like the

way in which the traditional type of robbery is carried out. The robber will find out

the whole information about the place that wants to rob before making attempt. Just

like this the computer attacker will try to find out information about the target. Social

Engineering is one such method used by an attacker to get information.

 

CYBER HARASSMENT OR BULLYING :-

Cyber-harassment or bullying is the use of electronic information and communication devices such as e-mail, instant messaging, text messages, blogs, mobile phones,

pagers, instant messages and defamatory websites to bully or otherwise harass an

individual or group through personal attacks or other means. “At least in a physical

fight, there’s a start and an end, but when the taunts and humiliation follow a child

into their home, it’s ‘torture,’ and it doesn’t stop”. Cyber-bullying,

taunts, insults and harassment over the Internet or text messages sent from mobile

phones has become rampant among young people, in some cases with tragic consequences. Derek Randel, a motivational speaker, former teacher, believes that “cyber-bullying has become so prevalent with emerging social media, such as Facebook and text messaging, that it has

affected every school in every community”.

 

IDENTITY THEFT :-

this is the fastest growing types of fraud in the UK. Identity theft is the act of obtaining sensitive information about another person without his or her knowledge, and using this information to commit theft or fraud. The Internet has given cyber criminals the opportunity to obtain such information from vulnerable companies’ database.

It has also enabled them to lead the victims to believe that they are disclosing sensitive

personal information to a legitimate business; sometimes as a response to an e-mail

asking to update billing or membership information; sometimes it takes the form

of an application to a (fraudulent) Internet job posting. According to the All Party

Parliamentary Group, the available research, both in the UK and globally, indicates

that identity fraud is a major and growing problem because of the escalating and

evolving methods of gaining and utilizing personal information. Subsequently, it is

expected to increase further over the coming years.

This is an issue which is recognized in the highest levels of Government.

In 2012 alone CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, identified and protected over 150,000 victims of these identity crimes.

 

PLASTIC CARD FRAUD :-

Plastic Card Fraud is the unauthorized use of plastic or credit cards, or the theft of

a plastic card number to obtain money or property. According to APACS (analysis

of policing and community safety framework), the UK payments association, plastic card losses in 2011 was £341m, of which £80m was the result of fraud abroad. This typically involves criminals using stolen UK card details at cash machines and retailers in countries that have yet to upgrade to Chip and PIN.

 

INTERNET AUCTION FRAUD :-

Internet auction fraud is when items bought are fake or stolen goods, or when seller

advertises nonexistent items for sale which means goods are paid for but never arrives. Fraudsters often use money transfer services as it is easier for them to receive

money without revealing their true identity.

Auction fraud is a classic example of criminals relies on the anonymity of the internet. According to action fraud 2013, some of the most common complaints involve:

• Buyers receiving goods late, or not at all

• Sellers not receiving payment

• Buyers receiving goods that are either less valuable than those advertised or

significantly different from the original description

• Failure to disclose relevant information about a product or the terms of sale.

These fraudulent “sellers” use stolen IDs when they register with the auction sites,

therefore tracing them is generally a very difficult tasks.