Which of the following is not an example of a cyber-crime?

• A. Fraud achieved by the manipulation of the computer records
• B. Firing an employee for misconduct
• C. Deliberate circumvention of the computer security systems
• D. Intellectual property theft, including software piracy

Answer: (B)

Understanding what counts as a cyber-crime centers on activities that use computers or networks to commit illegal acts. Firing an employee for misconduct is a personnel decision and not a crime involving computer systems. Even if the firing is contested, it would fall under employment law or ethics, not cyber-crime. The other examples involve actions that directly relate to computers or digital assets: manipulating computer records to commit fraud uses digital data to deceive; deliberately bypassing security systems is hacking; and stealing intellectual property, including software piracy, involves illegal copying or distribution of digital goods. So, the action that is not a cyber-crime is firing an employee for misconduct.