The Oxford Reference Online defines cyber crime as crime committed over the
Internet. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines cyber crime as any crime that is committed by means of special knowledge or expert use of computer technology.
Cyber crime could reasonably include a wide variety of criminal offences and activities. The scope of this definition becomes wider with a frequent companion or substitute term “computer-related crime.” Examples activities that are considered cyber crime can be found in the United Nations Manual on the Prevention and
Control of Computer-Related Crime. The manual includes fraud, forgery, computer sabotage, unauthorised access and copying of computer programs as examples of cyber crime.
Malaysia was amongst the first few countries in the world to introduce cyber laws. An example of such cyber is the Computer Crimes Act 1997. This cyber law addresses and looks into areas of cyber crime activities.
STATISTICS ON CYBER CRIME MAY NOT BE REAL
Statistics may show the trend on cyber-crime activities but are not a reliable source to determine the actual position of the computer crime rate. Criminologists use the term
"dark figure" to describe the undetermined actual position which refer to those undetected computer crimes activities. Several contributing factors below may explain why it is called “dark figure”.
First, the fast operational speed of today’s computer hardware makes criminal activity very difficult to detect. Second, law enforcement officials often lack the necessary technical expertise to deal with criminal activity. Third, once criminal activity has been detected, many businesses are reluctant to lodge a report due to fear of adverse publicity, loss of goodwill, embarrassment, loss of public confidence, investor loss, or economic repercussions.
CYBER CRIME AND TECHNOLOGY
As technology in ICT becomes more advanced, law enforcement agencies must provide their