Thuggery - A Prevalent Cyber Crime

While thuggery is a term that is more commonly associated with hip hop slang, it also refers to organized hacker activity. Similar to identity theft and identity fraud, thuggery allows for credit card numbers to be stolen and used for illegal purposes without the user's authorization.

Thuggery takes advantage of weaknesses in operating systems, particularly of e-commerce companies, whose have thousands of credit card information in their databases. Those who commit thuggery often have advanced and specialized skills in hacking that allows them to go through passwords and firewalls as well as secure systems.

Once these hackers have the information from the e-commerce company's database, they will contact the company and threaten them to sign with them so that they can provide Internet security services. In this instance of good cop and bad cop, it is the perpetrators who pretend to be on the side of the company by offering their services. Whether the company chooses to sign up with them or not, the hackers still have the credit card information and the system cannot be considered safe again. It is also suspected that hackers can sell all the data to organized crime groups without the knowledge of the company.

Thuggery is considered one of the many kinds of computer crimes that have risen in prevalence over the last few years. Online theft of transactions made over the Internet remains the easiest and most susceptible way in which you can be a victim. Unless you are very careful, you can be a victim of financial fraud as well.

Thuggery - How to Prevent It from Happening to You

For consumers, always sign up and make purchases only with reputable and established companies. You can confirm with the Better Business Bureau if the company you are transacting with has received complaints from consumers in the past and if it has a good reputation. As much as possible, do not give out your credit card information over the phone and provide only as much on a need to know basis.

Do not willingly and voluntarily provide the information unless it is asked and is justifiable in the situation or transaction. Always check your financial statements to ascertain that everything that needs to be there is present and no transactions that you did not make are listed in the statement.

For e-commerce companies, you should not hesitate to invest in the proper software to ensure that you maintain a secure website and system. You should check for bugs and viruses continually as well as ensure that hackers cannot enter your system and steal the credit card information.

If a group of hackers has committed thuggery, you need to report this to the Federal Trade Commission immediately so that a proper investigation can be carried out. There is still very limited literature on thuggery as few cases have ever been resolved, but because of the pervasiveness of identity theft and computer crimes, attention has been given by the United States government on the occurrence of this crime.

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