The computer and the Internet have become important tools used in the lives of many all around the world. Traditionally the computer and the Internet are used as an information tool, although it is beginning to be used for unlawful activities, such as a way to distribute child pornography, as a means to corrupt the infrastructure of a business, and money laundering. Hackers are a group of individuals who are learners and explorers, using their talents to cause damage to society. Most of the information gathered by hackers is available to anyone with the right tools and the know-how. The majority of these conflicts surround the idea of what should be made available on the Internet and what security measures are being used by targeted organizations. The minimal security of information on the Internet has enabled hackers to access information and use it to destroy corporations, government agencies, and society, in general.
             In this essay, I plan to discuss computer crime and hackers, how to protect your computer, and what security measures have been taking place to prevent computer crime. I will look closely at the following questions: what is computer crime, what is hacking, the different types of computer crime, what drives hackers to create such enormous amounts of damage, the future of computer crime and what methods are being used to prevent hacking.
             Computer crime is increasing rapidly and continuously changing to the point that there are several definitions of computer crime. The most recent definition is: Computer crime is any illegal act which involves a computer system whether the computer is an object of a crime, an instrument used to commit a crime or a repository of evidence related to a crime (www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca). We now have a clearer definition of what computer crime is, so who are the victims. Everyone who has a computer connected to the Internet is a target for computer crime. Most hackers choose to target large co...