CJ Today CH14 Key Terms

background check

A process of verifying a person's history, including criminal, employment, and financial records, typically used for security clearance or employment.

botnet

A network of private computers infected with malicious software and controlled as a group without the owners’ knowledge.

compliance

Conforming to laws, regulations, and policies, especially in corporate or technological environments.

corporate violence

Harm caused by corporate actions or negligence, often affecting public health or safety.

cyberattack

An attempt to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system or network.

cyber crime

Criminal activities carried out using computers or the internet.

cyber forensics

The use of specialized techniques to recover, analyze, and preserve electronic data for legal evidence.

cyber fraud

Deceptive practices conducted through digital means to gain financial or personal benefit.

cyberstalking

The use of the internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual.

data breach

An incident where sensitive, protected, or confidential data is accessed or disclosed without authorization.

digital evidence

Information stored or transmitted in digital form that may be used in court.

encryption

The process of converting information into a secure format that hides its meaning to unauthorized users.

hacker

Someone who gains unauthorized access to systems or networks, often to steal or alter information.

identity theft

The deliberate use of someone else’s identity, typically for financial gain.

intellectual property

Creations of the mind, like inventions or artistic works, protected by law.

material support

Providing resources or assistance to organizations, often used in the context of terrorism-related charges.

national security letters

Administrative subpoenas used by U.S. government agencies to demand information without a court order.

Patriot Act

A U.S. law passed in 2001 that expanded surveillance and investigative powers to counter terrorism.

phishing

A fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information by pretending to be a trustworthy entity via digital communication.

racketeering

Organized illegal activity, often involving extortion, fraud, or coercion.

regulation

A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority to control or govern conduct.

spam

Unsolicited and often irrelevant or inappropriate messages sent over the internet, typically to large numbers of users.

surveillance

The monitoring of behavior, activities, or information for the purpose of influencing, managing, or protecting people.

true threat

A statement meant to communicate a serious expression of intent to commit an act of unlawful violence.

virus

Malicious software that replicates by inserting itself into other programs and spreading across systems.

worm

A type of malware that replicates itself to spread to other computers, often causing harm or slowing down networks.