How Criminals Use Computers to Steal Identities

1 .0 Introduction

Computers are very useful devices because of the many purposes which they serve . However , criminals can use computers to steal identities especially when these computers are connected to the internet . In a nutshell , the internet is a worldwide network of computers and other digital devices such as mobile phones . This interconnectivity afforded by the internet serves as an easy route by which criminals perpetrate their nefarious activities . The internet is useful in many ways but it is indeed a very dangerous place . Criminals who use computers to steal

other people 's identities are referred to as hackers . Schneier (2006 br

.1 ) notes that a hacker is someone who .sees a set of rules and wonders what happens if you don 't follow them ' Hackers are usually unauthorized and gain access to information systems in to steal They often change the existing passwords and deny access to the original owners . In some cases they disrupt online service and end up causing severe damage . The purpose of this is to identify the different ways by which criminals use computers to steal identities

1 .1 Strategies for stealing identities

Criminals use various programs and strategies on computers to steal identities . This is only possible on computers that are connected to the internet . The various computer programs and strategies which criminals use to steal identities are as follows : password crackers , packet sniffing , phishing , spoofing , worms , and Trojan horses

Password crackers . Password crackers are often guess programs . When this...