Cybercriminal

Who is Cybercriminal?

A cybercriminal is an individual who commits cybercrimes by using a computer as a tool, a target, or both.

Cybercriminals use computers in three broad ways:

Select computers as their target

These criminals attack other people’s computers to perform malicious activities, such as spreading viruses, data theft, identity theft, etc.

Use computers as their weapon

They use computers to carry out “conventional crime,” such as spam, fraud, illegal gambling, and so on.

Use computers as their accessory

hey use the computer to save stolen or illegal data.

Key Takeaways

A cybercriminal commits cybercrimes by using the computer as a tool, a target, or both.
Cybercriminals often work in organized groups with specific roles, such as programmers, fraudsters, and tellers.
Cybercriminals are mainly driven by financial gain but sometimes also by power and influence.
Cybercriminals use various tactics to exploit weaknesses, such as phishing, malware, and ransomware.
Strong security protocols and education are needed to protect against cybercriminals.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

Who is Cybercriminal?
Key Takeaways
Types of Cybercriminals
Motivation of Cybercriminals
Tactics Used by Cybercriminals
Cybercriminals vs. Hackers & Threat Actors
9 Ways to Protect Against Cybercriminals
The Bottom Line
FAQs
References

Table of Contents

Who is Cybercriminal?
Key Takeaways
Types of Cybercriminals

Show Full Guide

Motivation of Cybercriminals
Tactics Used by Cybercriminals
Cybercriminals vs. Hackers & Threat Actors
9 Ways to Protect Against Cybercriminals
The Bottom Line
FAQs
References

Types of Cybercriminals

Cybercriminals often work in organized groups.

Some cybercriminal roles are:

Programmers

Programmers write code or programs used by cybercriminal organizations.

Distributors

Distribute and sell stolen data and goods from associated cybercriminals.

IT experts

Maintain a cybercriminal organization’s IT infrastructure, such as servers, encryption technologies, and databases.

Hackers

Hackers exploit systems, applications, and network vulnerabilities.

Fraudsters

Create and deploy schemes like spam and phishing.

System hosts and providers

Host sites and servers that possess illegal content.

Cashiers

Provide account names to cyber criminals and control drop accounts.

Money mules

Manage bank account wire transfers.

Tellers

Transfer and launder illegal money via digital and foreign exchange methods.

Leaders

They are often connected to the big bosses of large criminal organizations. They assemble and direct cybercriminal teams and usually lack technical knowledge.

Clearly, there is much overlap between roles, but as cybercrime becomes a greater issue, organized crime is getting involved and creating further specializations. For example, hackers were once (more often than not) hobbyists who broke into systems for personal gratification.

While whitehat hacking hasn’t disappeared, it’s much more common now to see hackers as professionals who sell their services to the highest bidder. Antivirus software can help some users protect themselves from cybercrime and fraudsters.

Motivation of Cybercriminals

Cybercriminals are mainly driven by financial gain. They take advantage of weak points in systems to steal personal, financial, or health data. This data is then sold on underground markets or used for fraudulent activities.

Sometimes, they are also driven by power and influence; they want to have control over people and organizations by accessing their data.

Tactics Used by Cybercriminals

Cybercriminals use various tactics to exploit weaknesses and achieve their goals.

Common tactics include:

Phishing

Sending fake emails or texts to trick people into giving out sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers.

Malware

Using harmful software, such as viruses and trojans, to steal data or disrupt operations. In some cases, they could also use spyware to spy on users.

Ransomware

Encrypting a victim’s data and demanding payment, often in cryptocurrency, to unlock it.

DDoS Attacks

Involve flooding networks or websites with traffic to make them unavailable to users, often using botnets.

Social Engineering

Manipulative technique to trick people into revealing confidential information (e.g. pretending to be someone they’re not).

Data Breaches

Hacking into systems to access and steal sensitive data.

Cryptocurrency Fraud

Illegally obtaining or manipulating digital assets, or deceiving investors about these assets.

Cybercriminals vs. Hackers & Threat Actors

Although these three terms are often used interchangeably, there are differences between them:

CybercriminalHackerThreat actor

A cybercriminal uses computer systems to conduct illegal activities. They might not be technologically savvy, and their motivation is usually financial.

A hacker is someone who is capable of manipulating computer systems and networks. There are two types of hackers: black hat hackers (who use their skills to conduct illegal activities) and white hat hackers (who use their skills to help organizations spot security weaknesses).

A threat actor is anyone who poses a risk to network security. This term can be mixed up with cybercriminals, but threat actors may have different reasons. For example, a threat actor could be a state-sponsored group trying to gather intelligence, a hacktivist protesting for a cause, or a thrill-seeker causing disruptions for fun. While some threat actors are cybercriminals, others may not intend to commit crimes but still perform actions that compromise security.

9 Ways to Protect Against Cybercriminals

There are several best practices to help you protect yourself or your business from cyberattacks:

Strong password policies
Use strong and unique passwords, change them regularly, and use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for additional security.
Multi-factor authentication
This requires you to provide additional information, such as codes sent to your mobile device.
Education
Learn and teach people how to create strong passwords, install the best VPNs, recognize phishing scams, and handle sensitive information.
Data encryption
Protect sensitive data by encrypting it so that even if threat actors gain access to the data, they are unable to read it.
Update systems and software
Update web browsers, anti-malware and antivirus software, and all applications.
Monitor network traffic
Analyze network traffic for unusual activity – use intrusion detection and prevention systems.
Monitor third-party systems
Monitor third-party vendors’ and contractors’ systems and networks to ensure that they meet the security requirements outlined in their contracts.
Cybersecurity policy
Organizations must have formal cybersecurity policies that outline the best practices that employees must follow and the consequences for failing to comply.
Security audits
Conduct security audits regularly to detect weaknesses in systems and processes.

The Bottom Line

In short, the cybercriminal definition relates to a person who commits cybercrimes by using the computer as a tool, a target, or both. They are usually motivated by financial gain.

Cybercriminals use various tactics, such as phishing, malware, and social engineering, to achieve their goals. Protecting against cybercriminals requires strong security measures and education on recognizing and avoiding cyber threats.