Cyber Sleuths
There are bold new criminals on the block and they can lurk anywhere. You can’t see them but these lawbreakers are very real. They’re called cyber criminals.
Cyber criminals operate on the Internet. Some hack into other people’s computers and pretend to be you, others try to trick you into giving out your bank account details and some hang out on social networking sites, trying to make friends with kids.
But cyber-smart cops are also out there in cyberspace. They’re on the job, tracking down the bad guys.
Patrolling the Net
So how do they catch these invisible criminals? Every time one computer ‘talks’ to another through their service provider, it sends signals out into cyberspace. These signals can be traced back to the computer because every computer has its own special number. It’s called an IP (Internet Protocol) address.
It’s almost like a computer fingerprint. ‘This is a series of identifiable numbers that are unique to every computer – no two computers in the world share the same one,’ says Patrick Kelly, Australian Federal Police Youth Adviser.
Highly skilled police officers also work the e-beat, they’re out there patrolling the Internet, searching for criminals. So cyber criminals can run but they can’t hide!
E-crimes
So what sort of crimes are e-criminals committing?
‘Some try scams such as phishing. They might send emails to thousands of people telling them to click on a link and they’ll win a million dollars – what they’re really doing is trying to steal your personal information,’ Patrick says.
‘Criminals may also commit identity theft. This could be hacking into your computer and sending out emails pretending to be you,’ he says.
Other criminals target children online – they’re grown-ups acting as if they are other kids.
‘They might want to make friends with you and meet with you, or ask you stuff about your mum and dad. They might also ask you things that seem okay – like do you catch the bus, or ask you what school you go to,’ says Patrick.
Being Cyber Smart
Kids can help cyber cops stay one step ahead of the bad guys. If you see anything online that looks suspicious or makes you feel uncomfortable, let your parents or teacher know. There are also other ways you can protect yourself against cybercrime.
- Protect your personal information online. Don’t give it to people you don’t know.
- Be aware of stranger danger. You wouldn’t speak to a stranger on the street, so don’t talk to people you haven’t met on the Internet.
- Always use strong passwords – a mix of uppercase, lowercase and keyboard symbols – not your name, date of birth or your pet’s name.
- Think before you click send – a photo or joke might seem funny but once it’s out in cyberspace, anyone can see it.
The Australian Federal Police, Ninemsn and Microsoft have launched a website http://www.thinkuknow.org.au with information about staying safe online. The site also has a button to report cyber abuse, which links directly to the Federal Police.
Photos courtesy Australian Federal Police. Based on the article by Joanne Hayselden