6 Online Activities That You Might Not Realize Are Cybercrimes

While combating with cybercrime is one of the major issues around the world, recognizing it is even more crucial. There have been several instances in the past where individuals have committed crimes unknowingly or they just thought doing it is ‘cool’.

However, the rule of law spares no one and cyber criminals, be it the unintentional ones, are punished too. So here we see that educating online users about what is right and wrong in the web world is quite important. Let us put light on 6 online activities that are considered casual by majority of people but are cybercrimes otherwise.

Masquerading as Someone Else

Many of you might have posted your profile picture on Facebook or Twitter as that of your favorite celebrity or sportsperson. But have you ever thought that you are using someone else’s photo for your personal use? Clearly, you are misrepresenting your identity which is considered illegal by Facebook.

Getting Harsh

If you are in the habit of taking online conversations lightly, then it is time to change your mind. Getting harsh with someone online can put you in trouble as the person can file a case against you. It is therefore important to keep in mind that online conversations are mere text, which means that they do not carry any emotions. A sentence that you might have written just as a thought might be hurtful for someone. Always use respectable language when communication with others over the internet.

Involvement in Hate Groups

There are several online groups that are created with inappropriate objectives like spreading hatred between people of different religions, and other controversial topics. Sharing your views by participating in such groups can lead to heated situations which can cause trouble for you and others. It is advisable to stay away from such groups by unfollowing them and staying calm.

Paying Ransom

Ransomware attacks are devastating. They take all your data and demand money to be paid in order to return your lost data. However, in reality, even after paying the ransom, majority of the victims do not receive the key to unlock their data. Moreover, by paying the attackers, you would only motivate them to commit more such crimes.

Trolling

Trolling someone is a trend these days. From text posts to cartoons, one could see a lot of content on the internet, especially on social media, that makes fun out of an individual or a group. However, in the past, there have been many cases of suicides, especially amongst children, when they are being made fun by their fellows online. Such trolling or cyber bullying is considered harassment under the law and is illegal.

Non-Consensual Porn

Ever seen someone’s photoshopped images posted on porn shots? Posting such sexually explicit images of someone on the internet without their consent is an offense under the law. Many individuals post intimate pictures of their ex-boyfriends/girlfriends on the internet as a way of taking revenge, but it is clearly invading someone else’s privacy and is thus a punishable act.

What are your views on such cybercrimes? Do you think there are other online activities that compromise on someone’s privacy? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section.