The dawn of the digital age brought with it a new breed of criminal – the cybercriminal. As computers and the internet became more ubiquitous in business and personal life, those with malicious intents saw opportunities to exploit these new technologies for illegal gain. The evolution of e-crime over the past few decades has seen hackers and scammers become ever more sophisticated, organized and destructive.
The Early Days of Hacking
In the 1960s and 70s, as computer technology advanced and became more accessible, a community of young computer enthusiasts known as “hackers” emerged. These hackers were driven by curiosity and a desire to understand and experiment with computer systems and networks. Initially hacking was not malicious, but over time some hackers began to break into computer systems without permission out of a desire to explore or simply to prove they could.
Some of the earliest documented hacking incidents targeted high-profile institutions like NASA, the US military and major universities. Teenagers and college students were able to gain unauthorized access to restricted computer systems just for the thrill and challenge of it. Phone phreaking, which involved manipulating telecommunication systems and phone networks, also became popular during this time.
While these early hacking attempts were not carried out for financial gain or with destructive intent, they were illegal. The US government responded by passing the first computer crime laws in the 1970s, such as the US Privacy Act of 1974 which aimed to prevent unauthorized access to private digital data.
The Rise of Malicious Hacking
In the 1980s hacking took a turn towards the malicious. As businesses began to rely more heavily on computers and digital networks, hackers saw opportunities for profit through criminal activities.
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