Cybercrime today has become one of the greatest threats to businesses, governments and citizens. It involves all forms of crime in which digital means - such as computers, smartphones, networks and the Internet - are used to commit crimes. These digital crimes are increasingly sophisticated, better organized and often carried out internationally. Cyber attacks focus not only on financial gain, but also on sabotaging vital infrastructure, stealing data, reputational damage, espionage, blackmail and spreading hate or disinformation.

Main forms of expression

Cybercrime has many manifestations, ranging from classic malware to sophisticated social engineering techniques. Major forms include:

• Malware - malicious software that infects or takes over systems. This includes viruses, worms, ransomware, spyware, trojans and adware. New variants, such as Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS), are making large-scale attacks more accessible to criminals.

• Phishing - tricking victims into handing over personal or financial information, often through fake emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages or phone calls. Spear phishing targets a person or organization very specifically.

• Identity fraud - stealing and using personal data to impersonate someone else online, such as for fraud or accessing bank accounts.

• Doxing - publishing personal information for the purpose of harm, threat or blackmail.

• QR code fraud - misuse of QR codes to access banking environments or manipulate payments.

• Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) - the surreptitious interception and manipulation of communications between two parties, often over insecure Wi-Fi networks.

• Emerging threats - such as revenge porn, cyberstalking, sextortion, catfishing, and the use of deepfakes for deception or reputational damage.

Trends and developments

Cybercrime is growing rapidly due to rapid technological developments, globalization and the emergence of digital work environments. Criminals need less and less technical knowledge due to off-the-shelf hacking tools and fraud-as-a-service models. AI plays a dual role: it is used for security but also to develop convincing fraud attempts, such as hyper-realistic phishing and deep-fake audio.

Social impact

• Economic: global damage from cybercrime is estimated at thousands of billions of euros per year.

• Social: attacks on hospitals, energy companies and transportation networks can disrupt lives.

• Personal: victims of identity fraud, sextortion or data breaches often experience long-term psychological and financial damage.

Why alertness is crucial

The line between physical and digital crime is blurring. Whereas traditional criminals used to require physical access, cybercrime can be committed from any location in the world. Prevention, awareness and cooperation between public and private domains are necessary to limit damage.

This file offers a current overview of the most important threats, trends, legislation and regulations as well as practical measures against cybercrime. Through the navigation you will find the latest news, policy developments and frequently asked questions about this complex and rapidly changing field.