cybercrime

American  

[sahy-ber-krahym] / ˈsaɪ bərˌkraɪm /

Or cyber crime

noun

1. criminal activity or a crime that involves the internet, a computer system, or computer technology.

   identity theft, phishing, and other kinds of cybercrime.

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cybercrime British  

/ ˈsaɪbəˌkraɪm /

noun

1. the illegal use of computers and the internet

2. crime committed by means of computers or the internet

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Other Word Forms

• cybercriminal noun

Etymology

Origin of cybercrime

First recorded in 1990–95; cyber- + crime

Explanation

Cybercrime is illegal activity that involves a computer network. Computer hacking and using the Internet to steal credit card numbers are both kinds of cybercrime. When criminals use a computer that's connected to the Internet to commit a crime, it's considered cybercrime. If you have your identity stolen after entering information on a website you think is secure, you're a victim of cybercrime. Malware or computer viruses are another type of cybercrime. The word itself uses the prefix cyber-, which since the early 1990s has been used in many words to signify a connection to the Internet or electronics.

Example Sentences

Xu is one of a half-dozen alleged kingpins running cybercrime networks, based in Cambodia, who have been sanctioned by the U.S. or are wanted by investigative agencies in other countries.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

AI has opened the floodgates for cybercrime, which generates enough money globally to rank as the third-largest economy behind the U.S. and China.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026

In a post on X on Monday morning, Sterling called on Dubai "to process foreigners in detention for cybercrime violations as quickly as possible".

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Although they were explicitly programmed to refuse to help hackers, the bots were duped into abetting the cybercrime.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

AFP was granted a look inside the global organisation's multi-pronged cybercrime facility, where specialists pore through massive amounts of data in a bid to prevent the next big ransomware attack or impersonation scam.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026