cybercrime

noun

cy·​ber·​crime ˈsī-bər-ˌkrīm 

plural cybercrimes

: criminal activity (such as fraud, theft, or distribution of child pornography) committed using a computer especially to illegally access, transmit, or manipulate data

The growing number of mobile devices, such as phones and tablets, and the popularity of social networks give them new avenues in which to expand their cybercrime.

—Eric Geier

Cybercrime is taking a bottom-line toll on the corporate workplace. Last year, losses exceeded $100 million—and that figure continues to skyrocket as security breaches pose an increasing threat to U.S. corporations, banks, and even the government.

—Beth Wilson

also : an instance of such activity

The increasing prevalence of cloud computing … has made storing and accessing important electronic data easier and less expensive than ever. However, the expanding number of documents and other information being stored electronically has increased the threat of cybercrimes, including data breaches.

—John Squitero

cybercriminal

ˈsī-bər-ˌkri-mə-nᵊl 

-ˈkrim-nəl

noun

plural cybercriminals

More small businesses are falling victim to "ransomware," to which malicious code locks up computer files and cybercriminals demand a ransom to free them.

—Ruth Simon

Examples of cybercrime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One way is for private companies—Microsoft is currently the most active—to publish research about suspicious social-media content or cybercrimes that appear to be state-sponsored. —David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024

For clarity, tax crimes include corporate fraud, public corruption, cybercrimes, international, general tax fraud, abusive tax schemes, employment tax, identity theft and refund fraud. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024

Leader of Crypto Extortion Gang Sentenced to 47 Years Cryptocurrency theft has become practically a common-garden form of cybercrime. —Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 21 Sep. 2024

The World Economic Forum predicts that the global cost of cybercrime will be $23.84 trillion by 2027, up from $8.4 trillion in 2022. —Damon Fleury, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cybercrime

noun

cy·​ber·​crime

ˈsī-bər-ˌkrīm

: criminal activity (as fraud or theft) committed using a computer especially to illegally access, transmit, or manipulate data

also : an instance of such activity

Legal Definition

cybercrime

noun

cy·​ber·​crime ˈsī-bər-ˌkrīm 

: crime (as theft, fraud, intellectual property violations, or distribution of child pornography) committed electronically