A CRITICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF CYBERCRIME ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF  UNDERGRADUATES STUDENTS (A CASE STUDY OF UNIBEN)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Today's internet world has evolved into a parallel way of life. Things that were unthinkable only a few years ago are now possible for the general public. Because of mankind's rising need and reliance on these technologies, the internet is quickly becoming a way of life for millions of people. The internet has made website communication, email, and a lot of other things possible from anywhere, and it provides solutions for the betterment of humanity (Kamini, 2011). The internet provides limitless commercial, social, and educational opportunities. Jide (2007), on the other hand, has raised concerns about the unique risks posed by the internet, such as cybercrime. The internet has simplified business processes such as sorting, summarizing, coding, editing, customized and generic report generation in a real-time processing mode for businesses, industry, government, and non-profit organizations. However, it has resulted in unintended consequences such as criminal activity, credit card fraud, spamming, phishing, ATM frauds, identity theft, and a flourishing haven for cybercriminal miscreants to continue their nefarious activities (Frank & Odunayo, 2013). Since man's fall, crime and criminality have been associated with him (Kamini, 2011). Crime has remained elusive, attempting to hide in the face of progress. Depending on the nature and scope of the crime, different countries have adopted different strategies to combat it. A country with a high rate of crime cannot grow or develop, as crime is inextricably linked to development. According to Singh, Gupta, and Kumar (2016), cybercrime is defined as any unlawful act in which a computer is used as a tool, a target, or both. Offenses against computer data and systems, such as hacking, computer-related forgery and fraud, such as phishing, content offenses, such as disseminating child pornography, and copyright offenses, such as disseminating pirated content, have all been referred to as cybercrime (Okanlawon, Yusuf, & Abanikannda, 2015).

Any activity involving computers and networks is considered cybercrime. A cybercrime is a crime perpetrated or assisted by the use of the Internet. Any illegal conduct using computers and networks is referred to as cybercrime. This includes anything from identity theft to unwanted emails (spam). Criminal intrusion into remote networks throughout the world may result in the theft of government or business secrets from afar. Cybercrime covers non-monetary violations such as spreading viruses on other computers or disclosing private company information on the internet, as well as anything from downloading illicit music files to stealing millions of dollars from online bank accounts (Boniface & Michael, 2014). encouraging students at the University of Benin to engage in cybercrime Greed, peer pressure, and poverty are examples of such forces that have been bolstered. Also, the fear of losing their jobs has prompted Nigerian students to engage in cybercrime [Olo, 2012]. Nigerian undergraduates seem to have acquired a dread of the future that leads them to consider a quick solution to break free from financial constraints after they graduate. As a result, they engage in nefarious activities in order to satisfy their life expectancy. The ramifications of such behavior are not implausible. As prophesied, a country whose kids are the leaders of future and have a flood of cybercrime in them would inevitably collapse. In addition, school dropout, hooliganism, armed robbery, and toggeries are all consequences of cybercrime [Madume, 2012]. In light of this, classifying yahooism as a kind of cybercrime and a transitional crime is not only useful in unraveling its mystery, but also in proposing a long-term remedy when assessing the influence of cybercrime on the academic accomplishment of UNIBEN undergraduate students.

1.2       Statement of the problem

Despite its many benefits, the internet has a bad side. Cybercrime comes at a price, and those costs are rising every day. Loss of life, loss of dignity, and loss of job are all examples of cybercrime. Cybercrime has an influence that is not confined to the victim; it also has an impact on society. Loss of money, lost time, tarnished reputation, and lower productivity are just a few of the economic implications of cybercrime [Ringwelski,2008]. The internet's contribution to Nigerian undergraduate academic advancement has been tainted by the deliberate emergence of new waves of criminality. The internet has also evolved into a place where the most efficient and secure offense flourishes. Cyber-crime has come as a shock and an unusual presence in Nigeria for the time being. Every day, we see more and more terrible examples of cyber-crime committed by Nigerian undergraduates, each one more horrific than the last [Folashade,2013]. It has turned into a persistent mouth sore that gives us a lot of agony and embarrassment because criminally minded students at the University of Benin are stealing and committing all kinds of academic and economic crimes using the internet for online communication and transactions. Exam neglect, fabrication of admission, rape, theft and stealing, sexual molestation, assault, and cultism are all common occurrences [Folashade, 2013]. With this heinous incident, the department's and the institution's academic pursuits have suffered a number of blows. The aforementioned occurrence and statement demonstrate that all that is required is a study of cyber-crime among University of Benin undergraduate students.

1.3       Objective of the study

The primary objective of the study is as follows

1)        To evaluate the  factors responsible for University students indulgence in cybercrime.

2)        To find out  the effect of cyber-crime on university students academic achievement.

3)        To examine challenges University authority face in the course of eradicating cybercrime among students.

4)        To investigate  strategies for reducing cyber-crime among University students.

1.4       Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for this study

1.        What are the  factors responsible for University students indulgence in cybercrime?

2.        What are the effect of cyber-crime on university students academic achievement?

3.        What are the challenges University authority face in the course of eradicating cybercrime among students?

4.        What are the strategies for reducing cyber-crime among University students?

1.5       Significance of the study

This study examines the impact of Cybercrime on the academic achievement of  Undergraduates students. Hence this study will be of benefit to the ministry of education and the University board as it will expose them to the prevalence of cybercrime and help them in devising a strategy to curb it among students.

This study will be beneficial to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature.

1.6       Scope of the study

This study will  evaluate the  factors responsible for University students indulgence in cybercrime. This study will also find out  the effect of cyber-crime on university students academic achievement. The study will further examine challenges University authority face in the course of eradicating cybercrime among students. Lastly, the study will investigate  strategies for reducing cyber-crime among University students. Hence the study will be delimited to the University of Benin, Edo state.

1.7       Limitation of the study

This study was constrained by a number of factors which are as follows:

 just like any other research, ranging from unavailability of needed accurate materials on the topic under study, inability to get data

Financial constraint , was faced by  the researcher ,in getting relevant materials  and  in printing and collation of questionnaires

Time factor: time factor pose another constraint since having to shuttle between writing of the research and also engaging in other academic work making it uneasy for the researcher

1.8       Definition of terms

Cybercrime:  criminal activities carried out by means of computers or the internet.

Academic achievement: the extent to which a student has achieved their learning goals