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

With 58% of the cyber attacks resulting in that $10.5 trillion annual cybercrime cost prediction mentioned earlier targeting small business, Akhtar is not wrong. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

He had been previously charged on December 6, 2022, in a district court in Washington, D.C, for a series of cybercrime charges, and two days later, he was indicted in a New Jersey court with federal warrants issued for his arrest. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024

Advertisement Interpol’s previous cybercrime operations in Africa had only led to 25 arrests in the last two years. —Mark Banchereau, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024

There are also resources from the government and private sector vendors for how consumers can beware of cybercrime after a disaster. —Robert Clark, Forbes, 21 Nov. 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