Combating cybercrime: Economic and legal aspects

Abstract

Cybercrime threatens the national security of different countries around the world. The growth of cyberattacks destabilizes the international order and disrupts the normal functioning of international relations. The purpose of the academic paper is to analyze the causes and economic consequences of the level of cybercrime in the world and to identify modern legal arrangements to combat cybercrime. In order to achieve the purpose outlined, the following methods have been used, namely: the method of comparison, analysis, element-theoretical method, method of generalization and analogy. It has been established that the level of cybercrime in the world and the economic consequences of its impact tend to increase. It is estimated that in 2020 the total cost of cybercrime and cybersecurity will exceed one trillion US dollars, which is more than 1% of world gross domestic product. The reasons have been determined why the number of cybercrimes are increasing (electronization and computerization of most industries, public sector; low level of operational cooperation; inconsistency of legal policy with the realities of cybercrime; development of cyber-attack mechanism; modernization of cybercrime; obstacles to international cooperation and so forth). The cause and effect interrelationship between the level of cybercrime, cybersecurity and legal methods of counteraction in different countries of the world has been proven. Three interrelated ways of the legal mechanism of counteraction to cybercrime have been offered, namely: the general, organizational and preventive ones. The expediency of international cooperation in the development of global strategies and other measures to combat cybercrime has been emphasized.