Unless acting in self-defence, it is illegal in Australia for adults to physically assault each other. But what about kids? Most twelve-year-olds are capable of throwing punches that can cause serious injury - some even pack a wallop to rival an adult. Is this legal? Let's find out.

Dear Lifehacker, I want to set up some security cameras to deter would be thieves but they cost an arm and a leg. I've checked out some dummy ones, and must say they look extremely convincing. My question is, if I install fake security cameras and get robbed, would it give my insurance company an excuse not to pay me?

Hey Lifehacker, I just finished watching all six seasons of The Sopranos which got me to wondering: does the Mafia actually still exist, or is it just a Hollywood fantasy? If it's real, in which countries does it operate? It might influence my travel plans!

With yesterday's news that notorious spammer Severa has been arrested in Spain, I was wondering what sort of sentence he can expect if he is found guilty of spamming and hacking crimes. Here's a look at five famous hackers and how they paid for the crimes.

President Obama gave out dozens of pardons yesterday, and commuted the sentences of over 200 people - including military whistleblower Chelsea Manning. Here are the differences between presidential pardons and commutations, as well as how the process unfolds.

Yes, 2016 was full of some awful news. Let's not forget all the good stuff that happened in 2016, though. Can't think of anything? This website will jog your memory.

I once carried around a fruit knife for a week in my backpack. I had completely forgotten about it after bringing it to work because all the blades in the office were blunt. I didn’t think much of it back then but was it legal for me to carry the knife around in public? Let's find out.

After causing widespread panic across America, the "Creepy Clown" phenomenon has made its way to Australia. If you suffer from extreme coulrophobia, you're probably losing sleep over this. But there's no need to worry. We explain why there's no need to panic. Yet.

"I’ve spoken to a lot of Australians who don’t believe they are safe on the streets anymore… We’ve had bombs and stabbings, it is happening. You see murders every night on our TV. The situation is growing worse and I know in Sydney and Melbourne the police won’t go into certain suburbs."

These are the words of former federal MP Pauline Hanson, who is back on the campaign trail for a Senate seat in Queensland. So is crime in Australia really getting worse? We take a look at the facts.

Let's say you have information about a serious crime that, for whatever reason, you don't wish to disclose to police. Perhaps you fear repercussions from the perpetrator, have close ties to one of the guilty parties or were told about the crime in confidence long after it had been committed. Is it legal to hold your tongue and pretend you saw/heard nothing?

All sides in the debate on gun control in the United States are quick to point to numbers they say back their arguments. But are they playing fair with those figures?

The shooting murder in Melbourne this week of Joseph Acquaro, a lawyer with links to the Calabrian mafia in Australia, has brought the activities of a group that largely operates under the public radar back into the spotlight. But exactly what role does the mafia play in organised crime? And should Australian law enforcement agencies be reassessing their priorities?

Yesterday afternoon, while boarding a train at Circular Quay station, a stranger plucked my wallet straight out of my back pocket. I never felt a thing. Within ten minutes, they had already used my credit card to make a fraudulent transaction. Here are five hard lessons that the experience taught me.

Whether you own a property or just rent it, the thought of a home invasion remains equally terrifying. According to government statistics, approximately one out of every 40 Australian houses will be burgled this year. That's pretty goddamn sobering. Thankfully, there are various measures you can take to vastly decrease the odds of your home being broken into. This infographic includes a breakdown of Australian burglary statistics and the most effective techniques to ward against invasion.

Criminals have always done their best to use new technology to their advantage and the rapid development of new digital technologies and online markets has provided the criminal entrepreneur with as much opportunity for innovation as their legitimate counterpart.

If your suitcase gets damaged at the airport, it's not uncommon for staff to offer an on-the-spot replacement. It turns out this can be a bad idea. Earlier today, a Sydney Airport customer was accidentally given a replacement bag that contained 230 grams of plastic explosives. Oops.