14 DAY TRIAL // Over the past few years, as the Internet has developed and the number of users has increased dramatically, there are more and more persons that use it in order to perpetrate illegal actions. Fortunately, there are companies that monitor the activities of such Cybercriminals and take the necessary measures in order to limit their actions.
McAfee, Inc., the leader in Intrusion Prevention and Security Risk Management solutions, today announced the results and availability of the McAfee Virtual Criminology Report, which examines how a new class of criminals are using the Internet in new, systematic and professional ways to commit illegal acts. According to the findings, information theft is the most damaging category of Internet crime, while viruses have been the most costly for businesses.
The report, commissioned by McAfee, discusses how organized crime and cybercrime are developing, and looks at the future threat this activity could pose to home computers, government computer networks, and to computer systems in the business sector. The report reveals a hierarchy of cybercriminals, discussing the recent evolution of the amateur cyber delinquent to the professional cyber gang.
Prior to 2000, cybercriminals acting alone committed the majority of cybercrimes, usually in an attempt to attain notoriety within the cyber world. However, in recent years, a shift has occurred as criminals and not just amateurs are committing cybercrimes. This is due in large part to the potentially huge financial gains that can be made from the Internet with relatively little risk.
Cybercriminals are stealing identities by extracting personal identification information or credit information from a company's database and affecting thousands of consumers. They can also extract a company's own financial information or steal valuable intellectual property. While viruses began as a means for hackers to demonstrate their prowess, they have become the leading delivery vehicle for attack by cybercriminals.
The goal of many cybercriminals is to infect thousands of computers and turn them into a network of devices that have been compromised by worms or viruses and attack in unison on command. Those who succeed in creating such a "bot-network" or "bot-net," now have access to a very powerful tool for crime. Such access has become easier, as spammers, hackers, and other cybercriminals are able to acquire or rent "bot-nets" -- some "bot-net" owners will rent their networks for $200-$300 an hour. "Bot-nets" are crucial to executing distributed denial of service attacks, spam and phishing scams, which makes them the growing weapon of choice for fraud and extortion.
The report credits the growth of online banking and commerce as part of the draw for cybercriminals. It discusses the many ways that criminals take advantage of vulnerabilities in networks and computers to gain access to valuable information, such as personal identification information, financial data and intellectual property.
Growth in cybercrime is also attributed to the anonymity and global connectivity, which enables cybercriminals from all over the world to engage in traditional crimes such as extortion, drug-running or pornography on a global stage. Simultaneously, the study reports that while cybercriminals become more advanced, today's law enforcement agencies are struggling to keep pace, as many lack the necessary tools to operate effectively in cyberspace.