Editing Data diddling (section)

{{Short description|Alteration of input in a computer system, often for fraud}}

'''Data diddling''' is a type of [[cybercrime]] in which data is altered as it is entered into a computer system,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Romney|first=Marshall|date=1995|title=Computer fraud--what can be done about it?|journal=CPA Journal|volume=65|pages=30}}</ref> most often by a [[data entry clerk]] or a [[computer virus]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digit.in/technology-guides/fasttrack-to-cyber-crime/the-12-types-of-cyber-crime.html |title=The 12 types of Cyber Crime |website=Digit |accessdate=October 1, 2018}}</ref> Computerized processing of the altered data results in a [[fraud]]ulent benefit. In some cases, the altered data is changed back after processing to conceal the activity.<ref>{{cite book |first=Donn B. |last=Parker |url=https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/118214NCJRS.pdf |title=Computer Crime: Criminal Justice Resource Manual |edition=2nd |publisher=[[National Institute of Justice]] |year=1989 |pages=12–13}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Computer Crime |first1=Monique |last1=Hébert |first2=Marilyn |last2=Pilon |publisher=Law and Government Division, [[Library of Parliament]] |year=1991 |url=http://www.res.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublicationsArchive/bp1000/bp87-e.asp }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The results can be huge. They might include adjusting financial figures up or down marginally, or it could be more complex and make an entire system unusable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silverbug.it/blog/10-types-of-cyber-crimes...-and-another-10-youve-never-heard-of|title=10 Types Of Cyber Crimes... And Another 10 You’ve Never Heard Of|last=Silverbug|website=www.silverbug.it|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-04-25}}</ref>