cybercrime

noun

cy·​ber·​crime ˈsī-bər-ˌkrīm 

plural cybercrimes

: criminal activity (such as fraud, theft, or distribution of child pornography) committed using a computer especially to illegally access, transmit, or manipulate data

The growing number of mobile devices, such as phones and tablets, and the popularity of social networks give them new avenues in which to expand their cybercrime.

—Eric Geier

Cybercrime is taking a bottom-line toll on the corporate workplace. Last year, losses exceeded $100 million—and that figure continues to skyrocket as security breaches pose an increasing threat to U.S. corporations, banks, and even the government.

—Beth Wilson

also : an instance of such activity

The increasing prevalence of cloud computing … has made storing and accessing important electronic data easier and less expensive than ever. However, the expanding number of documents and other information being stored electronically has increased the threat of cybercrimes, including data breaches.

—John Squitero

cybercriminal

ˈsī-bər-ˌkri-mə-nᵊl 

-ˈkrim-nəl

noun

plural cybercriminals

More small businesses are falling victim to "ransomware," to which malicious code locks up computer files and cybercriminals demand a ransom to free them.

—Ruth Simon

Examples of cybercrime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Justice Department officials said Mr. Vinnik ran the exchange with the intent to promote cybercrime. —Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025

The bottom line: Ransomware requires an all-of-government approach, not just law enforcement investigations, to both hold hackers responsible for their misdeeds and to make the cybercrime less appealing. —Sam Sabin, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025

Looking at other reasons for the increase in health care data breaches, human error reportedly accounted for 75 percent of data breaches in 2024, a report by KnowBe4, a security and cybercrime website, found. —Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025

The move came as Russia seemed to be sending some sort of message about its tolerance for cybercrime with the sentencing of the dark web marketplace Hydra’s staff, including a life sentence for its administrator. —Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cybercrime

• aforetime
• allozyme
• anytime
• christmastime
• dinnertime
• guggenheim
• isozyme
• lysozyme
• maritime
• mesenchyme
• overtime
• pantomime

Kids Definition

cybercrime

noun

cy·​ber·​crime

ˈsī-bər-ˌkrīm

: criminal activity (as fraud or theft) committed using a computer especially to illegally access, transmit, or manipulate data

also : an instance of such activity

Legal Definition

cybercrime

noun

cy·​ber·​crime ˈsī-bər-ˌkrīm 

: crime (as theft, fraud, intellectual property violations, or distribution of child pornography) committed electronically