A recent study by Surrey University has revealed that purchasing a cyber attack can be as easy as shopping for day-to-day items online.
This worrying report has revealed that customers can hire hackers, buy log-in details and purchase hardware to commit cyber fraud – all online via cyber crime marketplaces.
Platform criminality
Criminologist Michael McGuire at Surrey University has estimated that $1.5tn in profits are acquired, laundered, spent and reinvested by cyber criminals every year through ‘platform criminality’. He says that:
“Would-be criminals no longer need to be computer experts to conduct a cyber crime, because they can buy in the various components they need as easily as online shopping.”
One of the marketplaces used to sell cyber crime tools was Webstresser. This was eliminated by British and Dutch police in April this year. Investigators have now revealed that the gang behind the platform were selling cyber attacks for as little as $14.99.
Protecting your business
Earlier this year Ciaran Martin, head of the National Cyber Security Centre, told the Guardian newspaper that the UK will “be fortunate to come to the end of the decade without having a category one attack”.
In the current security climate and with the news that cyber crime tools are becoming more accessible, it is important for companies of all sizes to take the appropriate measures to protect their business against cyber criminals.
Cyber Essentials
If you want to protect your business against the rising threat of cyber crime, Cyber Essentials certification is an excellent place to start.
The controls that need to be in place for a business to reach the standards for Cyber Essentials certification can help to protect your business from 80% of common cyber attacks.
Read more about cyber certification by downloading the Cyber Essentials Scheme Summary.
