CYBERCRIMES

With the advancement of technology, technological devices have suddenly become indispensable, occupying a significant place in our lives. These technological tools allow us to perform tasks that were much more laborious in the past, in a shorter time and with less effort. Given this situation, it's quite normal that such technological devices have become so integrated into our lives so quickly. Considering the current state of technology, it's truly difficult to make any predictions. Every day we encounter many innovations that surprise us and make us say, "This can't be true," and keeping up with these developments seems quite challenging. Communication and communication tools have always been a fundamental determining and guiding element in the development of humanity. Indeed, among the technological devices that we can describe as indispensable in our lives are devices whose primary purpose is communication, such as telephones, televisions, and computers. While these devices, which have become so quickly integrated into our lives and are now indispensable, have many positive aspects, they also contain serious negative aspects. The most significant of these negative aspects is the situation involving unauthorized access to our information by other people through the internet. These and similar actions, occurring against a person's will, lead us to situations defined as cybercrimes under the law. Cybercrime is defined as attacks aimed at damaging the victim's honor or causing direct or indirect physical or mental harm to countries, companies, individuals, or groups of individuals, using modern communication tools such as the internet and mobile phones. As mentioned, cybercrimes are defined as crimes in the law. Cybercrimes are regulated in the Turkish Penal Code under the heading "Crimes in the Field of Information Technology" in articles 243 and 244. It is not possible to limit cybercrimes to a specific area because the technology we call the internet has no boundaries. It would not be correct to limit the crimes and types of crimes that can occur using an unlimited technology. The types of crimes we categorize as cybercrimes can be those that only entered our lives with the advent of the internet, or they can be classified as cybercrimes if a type of crime that existed before the internet is committed online. For example, crimes like fraud and harassment, which existed in the Turkish Penal Code even before the internet, can now occur online. Because these types of crimes occur online, they can be classified as cybercrimes. As mentioned, cybercrimes cannot be confined to a specific area. It would be wrong to say that the victims of cybercrimes are only individuals from society. Victims of cybercrimes can include international organizations, countries, companies, administrative institutions, etc. Therefore, combating cybercrimes has become a concern for everyone. Measures that can be taken to combat these crimes include: not connecting to the internet with a computer containing private information belonging to your company or yourself without taking special security measures; keeping your computer's operating system constantly updated; and using licensed antivirus programs. It is important to know that complete security can never be guaranteed online. You can be subjected to a cyber attack at any time online. Do not accept or send files from unknown individuals. Be careful not to conduct such transactions even with people you know. Because you must consider the possibility that someone you know could be hacked. We previously mentioned that when existing types of crimes occur online, they can be classified as cybercrimes. One of these is fraud. With the widespread use of the internet, the concept of online shopping has become ingrained in our lives. When shopping online, you must pay attention to whether the site is trustworthy. If you shop from sites without an SSL certificate, you may be defrauded and become a victim of another type of crime defined in the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), such as having your card information copied. Crimes such as unauthorized access to a computer system, obstructing, disrupting, or rendering a system inaccessible, destroying or altering data, misuse of bank or credit cards, and using prohibited devices or programs are all types of crimes regulated in the TCK. If you are a victim of one or more of these crimes, there are various alternatives for filing a criminal complaint. You can report your complaint regarding illegal websites 155@iem.gov.tr , or you can file a complaint with the Public Prosecutor's Office with all the evidence you can obtain regarding the issues you are complaining about.