Cybercrime
Just as the internet and other new technologies are opening tremendous possibilities, they also provide opportunities for criminals to commit new crimes and to carry out old crimes in new ways.
What is Cybercrime?
In Australia, the term ‘cybercrime’ is used to describe both:
- crimes directed at computers or other information communications technologies (ICTs) such as computer intrusions and denial of service attacks; and
- crimes where computers or ICTs are an integral part of an offence (such as online fraud).
Statistics show that cybercrimes continue to grow in Australia and pose a serious threat to individuals, businesses, and governments. Cybercriminals constantly evolve their operations against Australian organisations, fuelled by a global industry of access brokers and extortionists (Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Cyber Threat Report 2022-2023.
The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) provides a list of common online threats that can occur to individuals and families.
- Account compromise
- Business or personal email compromise
- Cryptomining
- Data breaches
- Hacking
- Identify theft
- Malicious insiders
- Malware
- Phishing
- Quishing
- Ransomware
- Scams
Instruct students to access the ASD / ACSC website or Scamwatch and research each of the online threats. Using the Cyber threats: Note taking template they are to describe the threats and what they can do to protect themselves and their families. (This information will be used in the concluding presentation activity.)
If students finish their research before the rest of the class they may like to attempt the quiz, Think you can spot a scam?
Cybercrime Statistics
The Australian government’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is responsible for strengthening the nation’s cyber resilience. It identifies and responds to cyber threats against Australian interests. The ACSC also manages ReportCyber on behalf of federal, state and territory law enforcement agencies. This is a single online portal for individuals and businesses to report cybercrime. (Australian Signals Directorate and Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD) (ACSC) Cyber Threat Report 2022-2023
- Conduct this activity as a class. Display the year in review section of the Australian Signals Directorate and Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD) Cyber Threat Report 2022-2023 on an interactive whiteboard or provide students with a copy of the pages and ask the following questions.
- Describe the key cyber incidents that occurred in 2022-2023 and the groups affected?
- Which cyber incident was the most prevalent across all sectors? Suggest why this may be the case?
- Discuss which Australian infrastructure sectors would be deemed critical to everyday life in Australia? Suggest reasons why these sectors may be the target of cyber incidents?
- Look at Table 1 and identify two key cyber security incidents. What type of criminal activity could they be associated with? Can you give examples of these criminal activities that have featured in the media recently?
- Conclude the lesson by asking students to use their notes from the previous activity and the information on the Australian Signals Directorate and Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD) Cyber Threat Report 2022-2023 website to write a summary focusing on the statement ‘The downside of digital technology.’ Once completed, groups present their findings to the class.