Teacher Resource 10–Researching the meaning of ‘cybercrime’

The activity

Cybercrime

According to the Crown Prosecution Service website there are two distinct types of Cybercrime; Cyber-dependent crimes and cyber-enabled crimes. These are defined as follows:

  • Cyber-dependent crimes are:

‘crimes that can be committed only through the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) devices, where the devices are both the tool for committing the crime, and the target of the crime’

  • Cyber-enabled crimes are

‘traditional crimes which can be increased in scale or reach by the use of computers, computer networks or other forms of ICT (such as cyber-enabled fraud and data theft)’

Using the information on the CPS website research the crimes below.

Find out the following:

  1. What does each crime mean?
  1. Is it Cyber-dependent or cyber-enabled?
  1. What is the existing legal protection for each crime?

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Nature of Law

Now use this information to fill in the grid below:

  • hacking
  • online grooming
  • virtual mobbing
  • ‘revenge pornography’
  • use of ‘ransomware’
  • cyberstalking.

Answers for teachers

Cyber-dependent crimes / Meaning / Existing legal protection
Hacking / The unauthorised use of, or access into computers or networks, by exploiting security vulnerabilities. / Computer Misuse Act 1990 Sections 1-3
Use of ‘Ransomware’ / Software that can hold data ‘hostage’ in return for payment. / Computer Misuse Act 1990 s.1 and 2.
s.55 Data Protection Act 1998.
Cyber-enabled crimes / Meaning / Existing legal protection
‘Online grooming’ / Using internet sites to gain access to children to develop relationships with them which may later be exploited for unlawful sexual abuse. / Section 36 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (amending s. 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003).
‘Virtual mobbing’ / A number of individuals use social media to make comments about another individual, usually because they are opposed to that person's opinions. / Encouraging or assisting in crime under s. 44-46 of Serious Crime Act 2007.
Revenge pornography / Disclosing private sexual photographs or films without the consent of an individual who appears in them and with intent to cause that individual distress. / Section 33 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.
‘Cyberstalking’ / Threatening behaviour or unwanted advances directed at another, using forms of online communications.
Often combined with ‘traditional stalking’. / Protection from Harassment Act 1997 as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
Offences against the Person Act 1861.

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Nature of Law