Which statement is true about the trend in reported cyber crimes?

• A. The number is decreasing.
• B. Cyber crime is not currently a large problem.
• C. The number of reported cyber crimes is likely to increase substantially.
• D. There is a centralized record keeping source monitoring all of the trends in cyber crime.

Answer: (C)

Understanding trends in reported cyber crimes hinges on how expanding connectivity and better detection shape what gets reported. As more people and devices come online, the opportunities for cyber wrongdoing grow, and improvements in detection, reporting, and willingness of victims to come forward mean more incidents are captured. Taken together, these factors make a substantial increase in reported cyber crimes a realistic and likely trend.

Saying the numbers are decreasing conflicts with the reality of a larger digital landscape and ongoing attackers’ activity. Claiming cyber crime isn’t a large problem ignores its widespread impact across individuals, businesses, and governments. And there isn’t a single centralized source that monitors all cybercrime trends; data comes from many agencies, sectors, and countries with varying reporting practices, so no one universal record exists.