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A new threat to the Internet
Cyber crime attacks on Internet users are nothing new. But recent investigations by security experts see the latest threats as coming from the former Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries. Organised crime gangs are running profitable operations by getting programmers to write malicious software (malware) and viruses. Russian hackers know that there is good money to be made, not just from utilising their own malware but also by selling it to the highest bidder.
Hackers can achieve rich pickings by developing malware that changes browser homepages and manipulates search results, getting users to click through to phishing sites and sign up for services. Buried in these sites are viruses that attack hard drives or keystroke software that sends secure information back to the hackers, allowing them to harvest vital details such as credit card numbers and security passwords.
The problem facing law enforcement officers trying to clamp down on this problem is the amount of bureaucracy and lack of co-operation between the East and the West. Attempts to pursue cyber criminals in the East have been described as leading to a ‘dead end’.
A simple firewall and anti-virus software will stop most attacks, but hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and increasingly blatant. They openly advertise their wares in Internet chatrooms and forums across the web, with a keystroke logger virus selling openly for an average of $23. Software that can extract bank details can sell for up to $1,000, meaning anyone with ‘intent’ rather than just ‘technical sophistication’ can now afford to buy malware openly.
Mark Sunner, chief security analyst at MessageLabs paints a frightening picture of open ‘intent’ by some Eastern Bloc gangs and the hackers who provide them with the ‘technical sophistication’ they need to carry out cyber crime. “From certain Russian websites, you can buy a purpose-built Trojan guaranteed to go under the nose of virus detection for $200. If it becomes detected by a virus-scanner, you can pay an additional $50 and get an upgrade, because you’re now a customer.”
The market for ‘ready-made’ viruses means that security issues are going to become far more important for anyone who uses the Internet on a regular basis to do business. Installing the most up to date security systems, firewalls and anti-virus software is the only way to combat the continuing threat of cyber crime.
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