We have compiled a cybercrimes glossary to help develop an understanding of the Cybercrimes Act. This glossary focuses on words that relate to the Act. To ensure that you do not commit offences created by the Act, you must know the meaning of terms associated with cybercrimes.

Access

Using:

  • a computer data storage medium, computer system, or their components, or
  • data or a computer program on a computer data storage medium or system.

Antivirus software

A program that monitors a computer or network to identify major types of malicious code and to prevent or contain malware incidents.

Article

An article includes:

  • data,
  • a computer program,
  • a computer data storage medium, or
  • a computer system.

Attack

An attempt to:

  • gain unauthorised access to a system or information, or
  • compromise system integrity.

Computer

An electronic device that processes data according to a set of instructions.

Computer data storage medium

Any device where data or a computer program is able to be reproduced or stored by a computer system.

Computer program

Data representing instructions that a computer system executes to do something.

Computer system

A computer or related computers that exchange data or any other function with each other or another computer or computer system.

Cybercrime

A crime against a computer or other technology or crime committed using a computer or other technology. Also known as an offence.

Cybercrimes Act

South Africa’s cybercrime legislation that:

  • create offences,
  • criminalises the disclosure of harmful data messages,
  • regulates jurisdiction for cybercrime,
  • regulates the powers to investigate cybercrimes, and
  • imposes obligations to report cybercrimes.

Data

Electronic representations of information in any form.

Data message

Data generated, sent, received or stored electronically, where any output of the data is in an intelligible form.

Designated Point of Contact

The office established or designated within SAPS to provide immediate assistance in investigating cybercrimes. This includes:

  • technical advice and assistance;
  • assisting with the investigation powers in the Act;
  • legal assistance;
  • the identifying or locating an article or suspect; and
  • cooperating with the appropriate foreign authorities.

ECSP

  • Any person licensed or deemed to be licensed person who provides an electronic communications service; and
  • A person who can lawfully control the operation or use of a private electronic communications network that is used to provide electronic communications services for the owner’s own use.

An ECSP is also known as an Electronic Communications Service Provider. Examples include ISPs, telcos, and certain IT services providers.

Financial institution

A:

  • financial product provider;
  • financial service provider;
  • market infrastructure;
  • holding company of a financial conglomerate; or
  • person licensed or who requires a license in terms of a financial sector law.

Examples of financial institutions include the JSE, a bank, pension fund or administrators, collective investment scheme, underwriters, and insurance companies.

Firewall

A firewall is a security device that monitors traffic to or from your network based on a defined set of security rules.

Hacker

An unauthorised user who attempts to or gains access to a system or data.

Intentional

Doing something on purpose.

Malware (malicious software)

Malware is intrusive software that is designed to:

  • steal data, or
  • damage or destroy computers and computer systems.

Examples of malware includes viruses, worms, Trojan viruses, spyware, adware, and ransomware.

Output of a computer program

Any data, computer program or instructions generated by a computer program.

Output of data

The display of data or data in any other manner.

Phishing

A type of social engineering where an attacker sends a fraudulent message designed to:

  • appear to originate from a trusted source to trick a user into revealing information, or
  • deploy malicious software onto a person’s computer or system. 

Ransomware

Ransomware is a form of malware that encrypts a victim’s files. The victim must then pay a ransom to decrypt the files and gain access to them again.

SAPS

The South African Police Service.

Person

A natural or a juristic person.

Unlawful

Conduct prohibited or not permitted by law.

Virus

A computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the permission or knowledge of the user.

Other glossaries

Malwarebytes published a comprehensive cybercrime glossary including terms that are not in the Cybercrimes Act.