Study on the Historical Variability of Computer Crime Using Selected Transient Criminal Phenomena as Examples

The subject of the study is the evolution of computer crime and its transformation under the influence of technological, economic, and legal factors. The author examines in detail aspects of the topic such as the obsolescence of certain forms of criminal behavior (for example, modem hacking, phishing) and the emergence of new ones (DDoS-as-a-service, identity theft), as well as the processes of decriminalization of specific acts (Articles 146 and 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Special attention is given to the analysis of crime dynamics through the lens of technological determination, economic devaluation of criminal schemes, and changes in legislation. The research covers both historical patterns and contemporary trends, including professional criminal groups and transnational criminal ecosystems. The author also closely examines the content of fundamental economic relations that determine the fundamental patterns of the evolution of computer crime in the 21st century. A comprehensive methodological approach is employed in the study, which includes the analysis of statistical data (Rosstat, Ministry of Internal Affairs), comparative legal analysis of legislative changes, as well as the method of cross-checking sources for data verification. Special attention is paid to studying the dynamics of technological and economic factors influencing the transformation of computer crime. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the comprehensive analysis of the evolution of computer crime through the prism of three key factors: technological obsolescence, economic devaluation, and legislative decriminalization. The author identifies the dialectical relationship between the development of protective technologies and the transformation of criminal practices, demonstrating how the disappearance of certain forms of crime (modem hacking, mass phishing) is accompanied by the emergence of more complex ones (DDoS-as-a-service, targeted attacks on cryptocurrencies). The main conclusions of the study confirm the cyclical nature of computer crime development, driven by changes in the economic base and technological infrastructure. A paradox in statistics is identified: the rise in recorded crimes under Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is related not to real dynamics but to changes in qualification. It is established that modern criminal ecosystems develop according to a "crime-as-a-service" model with a clear division of criminal labor. It is proven that the decriminalization of specific acts (Articles 146, 165 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) reflects the transformation of economic relations in the digital environment. The author proposes a model for analyzing crime as a dynamic system, where technological changes are not an independent factor but a derivative of economic and legal conditions.