What is Cybercrime?

With regular internet use and the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence comes an increased need for professionals who know how to provide safeguards for businesses and individuals alike.

A career in cybercrime prevention and investigation — or a field such as technology, law enforcement or business, coupled with cybercrime expertise — can position you to design and implement those very safeguards.

What is the Definition of Cybercrime?

In the simplest of terms, “any illegal activity that utilizes computers or the internet” is cybercrime, said Rodney Royster, a cybersecurity program instructor at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) with 40+ years of experience in the information technology field.

Cybercrime is “frequently associated with the term ‘hacker,’” said Jason Compton, a criminal justice instructor at SNHU and enterprise security and safety executive. “But cybercrime is much more in-depth than just that.”

This is due to the many types of cybercrime that currently exist and the frequency with which they occur.

What Are 4 Types of Cybercrime?

Cybercrime can take a variety of forms, all designed to steal digital information. According to Compton and Tim Craig, also a criminal justice instructor at SNHU, four common types of cybercrime include: 

Email Compromise

Opening an email from a sender you don’t know can potentially provide access to your computer and all of the information stored on it.

Identity Theft

This is a type of fraud that can take many forms. Criminals will use various means to obtain key data connected to your identity, such as all or part of your phone number, date of birth, address or social security number. They can use this information to pretend to be you and then steal from you.

Malware and Ransomware Attacks

“As the name suggests, this is malicious software that locks down your files and holds them ‘hostage’ until you pay a fee, or ‘ransom,’” Compton said.

Some criminals design software to act like a Trojan horse. If an unsuspecting user clicks on a link, that click may open a virtual door of sorts, allowing a computer virus to damage or even destroy a computer and the data that's on it.

The word “malware” is short for “malicious software.”

Phishing

This is the practice of sending fake emails, texts or other types of messages with the intention of soliciting a response. Criminals use your responses to their messages to learn your passwords and gain access to your accounts.

The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Cybercrime

Over the last few years, significant advancements have been made in AI technology. It's speeding up work in many industries — including cybercrime.

"Attackers are using generative AI across the whole attack chain now," Craig said. Phishing emails, for example, may now be written by generative AI and lack some of the telltale signs of nefarious intent.

It's also given rise to impersonation through deepfake audio and video, according to Craig.

The FBI's annual Internet Crime Report noted that AI accounted for 22,364 complaints in 2025, which ultimately cost Americans nearly $893 million. The report noted the scams involved fake social media profiles, voice clones, identification documents and believable videos.

"It's also compressing timelines," said Craig, who noted that AI-enabled cyberattackers can speed up reconnaissance and automation.

Craig has two decades of experience in law enforcement, where he held the roles of police officer, computer forensic examiner and lab manager. Since leaving law enforcement, he's worked in digital forensics and incident response in corporate spaces.

With 49% of U.S. adults using AI chatbots in 2026, according to the Pew Research Center, personal and professional AI usage is another cause for concern.

"From both a corporate and personal perspective, one of the biggest risks I see is that many people who are not cyber-aware are entering confidential information and sensitive details into these tools without fully understanding the potential consequences," Compton said.

Information security education and the expansion of insider threat programs are more important than ever, according to Compton, who is experienced in directing investigations, emergency response and initiatives to protect corporations from risks.

"Effective governance, monitoring and ongoing user education help reduce that risk while allowing employees to take advantage of AI's capabilities," he said.

So, Why is Preventing Cybercrime Important?

So much of daily life revolves around the use of electronic devices and AI. It's inevitable that crime will show up in these areas.

“Cybercrime can turn our lives upside down in just about everything we do,” Royster said.

The hard part is that criminals often have a high level of knowledge when it comes to how to access data, whereas the average internet user does not.

Because of this, cybercrime impacts both our personal and professional lives in many ways — from having your credit card information compromised or your identity stolen.

Craig added that cybercrime not only affects our personal lives as individuals but can also affect us when big businesses are compromised. For instance, if a company is breached, your personal data may be compromised, according to Craig. This can cause an eventual financial impact on individuals who conducted business with that company.

Keeping personal things personal is important to most people for basic privacy reasons, but the amount of theft and fraud that can be conducted through cybercrime is of concern. Reliance on information technology has “led to the targeting and exploitation of that technology as well,” Craig said.

Just as the internet has become increasingly important in our daily lives, so has the need to stay safe online.

What Can I Do to Protect Myself from Cyberattacks?

As an ever-growing problem, people and businesses need safeguards in place to protect themselves from cybercrime attacks. As individuals, being mindful of how we manage our personal data is key.

“The need for people to limit what they post or enter online is crucial,” said Craig. “The use of strong and complex passwords is key as well. We need to make it hard for the ‘bad guy’ to get in."

After all, people protect physical spaces with locks, cameras and lighting. An 'internet home' should be protected, too, he said.

Royster offers some tips for protecting your digital identity, which include:

• Keep your antivirus software up to date
• Never share personal information, such as banking information, over the phone unless you are certain of the identity of the person with whom you are speaking
• Only download email attachments or click on links when you know the sender
• Protect your passwords and change them frequently
• Use a firewall

While cybercrime is evolving every day, Compton said the fundamentals of cybersecurity have not changed.

"Maintain good cyber hygiene by keeping your devices updated with the latest security patches, using strong authentication and taking the time to verify links and requests before clicking," he said.

What Are Some Large-Scale Effects of Cybercrime?

Have you shopped at Target, Costco or Home Depot? Have you ever used Facebook, Yahoo or Adobe software? If so, you are connected to a business that has experienced a data breach in the last several years, said Royster. It’s possible you never even knew about the breach.

While much of the impact of cybercrime happens to individuals, there are bigger effects of cybercrime as well. “The number of breaches, ransomware attacks, malware stealing data and online fraud has taken a toll economically for businesses and individuals,” Craig said. These attacks are continuous, with no end in sight.

The result is that companies must scramble to “find ways to protect the data and commerce at a large scale,” said Craig. This, in turn, is leading to increased job opportunities in this field, because companies are widely seeking professionals with cybercrime expertise to “help protect companies from financial ruin."

Can I Fight Cybercrime as a Career?

The job outlook for careers in cybercrime is growing as fast as the public’s internet usage. In fact, the field “seems to be recession-proof in nature,” Craig said.

With a growing amount of people who transitioned to remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in the number of new challenges to preventing cybercrime as well.

“As the demand for connectivity grows, so does the need for support to defend against cyberattacks,” Craig said.

That leads to a demand for people trained to protect against such attacks on privacy and digital information — and handle investigations when cybercrime does occur.

"Cybercrime investigations are no longer limited to computer specialists," said James Ryan, CFE, CISA 3CI, a criminal justice instructor at SNHU with two decades of experience in federal law enforcement. "Nearly every criminal investigation today involves some form of digital evidence."

That digital evidence, Ryan noted, might include:

• Cloud storage
• Cryptocurrency transactions
• Mobile devices
• Social media and online communications
• Surveillance systems

"Cybercrime is one of the fastest-growing areas in criminal justice because technology now touches nearly every aspect of our personal and professional lives," said Ryan, who currently works as a resident agent in charge/supervisory special agent for the Department of War.

So, if you're interested in fighting cybercrime, the criminal justice field presents a good opportunity.

What Skills Do Cybercrime Professionals Have?

If you want to work in this field, Ryan identified some valuable technical and human skills to develop. They include:

• Analytical thinking and problem-solving
• Collaboration across multidisciplinary teams
• Digital evidence collection and preservation
• Intellectual curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning
• Strong report writing and communication skills

A knowledge of criminal law, search and seizure and privacy considerations as well as cybersecurity principles and emerging technologies is also fundamental, Ryan noted.

What Are Examples of Cybercrime Careers?

A major or concentration related to cybercrime can lead to many types of careers. According to Craig, some top career opportunities in this field are:

• Information Security Analyst: This field is growing much faster than average over the next 10 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with a median salary of $124,910 in 2024.* Information security analysts research, plan and implement security measures to protect an organization’s data, computer networks and other electronic collateral.
  
  
• Law Enforcement: Since technology is increasingly embedded in people's lives, Ryan said cybercrime is increasingly relevant to criminal justice today. With a median salary of $77,270 in 2024, according to BLS, employment opportunities combine a career in criminal justice with technology and cybercrime investigation.* Police officers and detectives are just a few such roles.
  
  
• Network and Computer Systems Administrator: The person in this role is generally responsible for managing and maintaining the daily operation of a business's computer networks. With a median salary of $96,800 per year, according to BLS, there may be opportunities to grow in this role, working for a variety of organizations.*

Expertise in cybercrime can also lead to careers in digital forensics investigations and intelligence within law enforcement fields.

According to Ryan, careers that investigate cybercrime are highly collaborative. Throughout his time in law enforcement, he's worked closely with prosecutors, digital forensic examiners, intelligence analysts and private-sector partners.

Ryan recently helped SNHU build a cybercrime concentration for its newly redesigned master's in criminal justice program. He said this program can help prepare students for work in roles such as:

• Compliance/risk management specialist or corporate investigations manager
• Criminal investigator, special agent or digital forensic examiner
• Cybersecurity, incident response or insider threat analyst
• Cyber or threat intelligence analyst
• Fraud or financial crimes investigator

Best Degrees If You Want to Prevent or Investigate Cybercrime

While the topic of cybercrime can pair well with many different majors and career paths, the following degrees are particularly good matches:

• Criminal justice: Many careers in the criminal justice field have a need for specialists in digital forensics and digital intelligence. In fact, “cybercrime professionals are more heavily utilized for investigation and analysis of criminal offenses,” said Compton.
• Cybersecurity: With a goal of safeguarding digital information, cybersecurity professionals rely on technical skills to prevent cybercrime from happening in the first place.
• Information security: This field can include studies in computer science, programming, networks and various kinds of technology and information systems.

While the specific skills and knowledge you can gain will depend on the program you choose, Ryan emphasized how essential developing an investigative mindset is in the cybercrime field — and he brings real-world experiences into his classrooms to support the learning process.

"I want (students) to learn how to think like investigators — asking the right questions, recognizing where digital evidence may exist, evaluating it objectively and applying sound legal and ethical judgment throughout the investigative process," he said. "Technology is constantly changing, but curiosity, critical thinking and integrity remain timeless investigative skills."

A former higher education administrator, Dr. Marie Morganelli is a career educator and writer. She has taught and tutored composition, literature, and writing at all levels from middle school through graduate school. With two graduate degrees in English language and literature, her focus — whether teaching or writing — is in helping to raise the voices of others through the power of storytelling. Connect with her on LinkedIn.