Authored By: Harpreet Kaur
IMS Law College
INTRODUCTION
In the present world that is interlinked, the internet has become an indivisible part of our daily life. From banking to shopping, education, entertainment, and socializing, all can be accessed with a tap in this contemporary lifestyle. On the one hand, it gives a leisurely life, whereas it also opens the gate for a new way to commit wrongs against mankind. A few decades back cyber cybercrime was a second-class crime with very little concern, but nowadays it has become a global crises that affect every part of society, where governments and individuals, and businesses are entangled in this crisis. The pace it is spreading its web has become a concern, with the title of a silent pandemic in the words of various experts. A silent pandemic means a pandemic that grows in darkness under the eyes, still not noticeable until it makes you feel like stuck in a spiderweb.
DEFINING CYBERCRIME
As per the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, cybercrime may be defined as “Any unlawful act where a computer or communication device or computer network is used to commit or facilitate the commission of a crime”.[1] These include activities like sexting, online drug trafficking, crypto jacking, espionage, phishing, CSAM, and a lot more. Report released by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in 2023 states that in 2023, the IC3 received a record number of complaints from the American public: 880,418 complaints with potential losses exceeding $12.5 billion, which is nearly a 10% increase in complaints and a 22% increase in losses compared to 2022.[2]. Whereas, as per Cybersecurity Ventures (2020) presumed that by 2025, cybercrime will cost The World $10.5 Trillion Annually.[3] All these reports repeatedly show how fast this concern is becoming a threat to the world economy.
CAUSE OF THE RISE IN CYBERCRIME
A major reason behind this speedy climb in cybercrime is the digital transition. The ladder to this silent pandemic also a pandemic i.e., COVID-19, it become a key reason towards the shift of this digitalized present we are living in. The switch to remote work, cloud computing, and online transition plays a vital role in the increasing probability of helplessness towards crime. Besides these changes, the potential area to attack also increases per hour. Whereas the protective shield is very fragile against the attacker’s advanced digital weapons and tactics. Moreover, the dark web plays a vital role by providing various ready-made ransomware kits, tools for hacking, and stolen data to be used even by an amateur at a very low price to pay for committing such kinds of offences.
THE ROLE OF GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY
The global nature of the internet plays the role of fuel in the occurrence of such crimes. It is easy to be managed and target a person from one end of the earth to the other without leaving the comfort zone of the criminal. Plus, the virtual private networks (VPNs) and transition in cryptocurrency make it more difficult to be traced down, shielding the lawbreakers. In addition to this, law agencies struggle with various challenges due to contradictions in international law and cyber law, along with jurisdictional issues in the countries allowing the wrongdoers to get out, taking advantage of the loopholes in the law.
LACK OF AWARENESS AND VULNERABILITIES
The insufficient awareness of cybersecurity among the general public, as well as business owners, multiplies the issue in the worst way possible. Factors like weak passwords, outdated software, and insufficient layers of security make the systems easy bait. One of the traditional yet most booming tricks is still phishing emails where a message of email message is sent and seems to be sent by a trusted source, and people believe it easily and open it, which contains malicious links or infected files. Technology advancement and techniques of cybercrime always go hand in hand. The modern attacks by the cybercriminals are more polished with a generous use of Artificial Intelligence deepfake technology, etc., for targeting people. Lately, there are many ransomware groups working as organized groups, even like legitimate corporations with customer care facilities as well, that guide the targets through the payment process.
CONSEQUENCES OF CYBERCRIME
The outcomes of this acceleration in cybercrime are serious and broad-based. The biggest harm caused by such offences is economic; many businesses face millions of dollars of loss every year due to these crimes, as well as the cost they pay for recovery, legal liabilities, and also face reputational damages. Not just businesses, it’s also a threat to the government due to concerns of national security, as well as individuals in terms of fraud, online scams, and identity theft that cause both financial and emotional damage. Due to this ongoing sequence of cybercrime public lost their belief in the digital system, resulting in hesitation in e-commerce, data sharing, and online banking.
SOLUTIONS AND WAY FORWARD
To tackle this silent pandemic, a multipronged approach is required. First, governments must strengthen international cooperation by harmonizing cyber laws across borders, creating global task forces, and improving extradition mechanisms for cybercriminals. Second, technological solutions such as AI-driven threat detection, blockchain for secure transactions, and multi-layered authentication systems should be prioritized. Third, individuals must adopt safe digital habits like strong passwords, regular updates, and skepticism toward suspicious emails or links. Businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, should invest in cyber hygiene training, penetration testing, and cyber insurance to mitigate risks.
Additionally, public-private partnerships (PPPs) can play a crucial role in fighting cybercrime. Tech companies have resources and expertise that governments lack, while governments hold regulatory power and investigative authority. Collaborative models where information about threats and vulnerabilities is shared in real time will allow quicker responses to attacks. Furthermore, awareness campaigns at the grassroots level, especially in schools and universities, are necessary to instill digital literacy from a young age. Just as health education became essential in combating traditional pandemics, cyber education is the vaccine against this silent pandemic. Without a preventive mindset, no technological shield can be effective in the long run.
CONCLUSION
The global rise in cybercrime has rightly been termed a “silent pandemic” because of its invisible yet destructive nature. It creeps into societies, economies, and governments without a loud alarm, but with devastating consequences once its effects are felt. While the problem is complex and multi-layered, it is not insurmountable. By building awareness, strengthening laws, fostering cooperation, and investing in robust cybersecurity measures, the world can slow down the rapid expansion of cybercrime. Just as pandemics in the past taught humankind resilience, this silent pandemic must inspire collective vigilance and responsibility to safeguard the digital future.
REFERENCE(S):
[1] National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
[2] FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). (2023). Internet Crime Report 2023.
[3] Cybersecurity Ventures. (2020). Cybercrime To Cost The World $10.5 Trillion Annually By 2025.
