Cyber crime driven by a service model, says Europol

The support available for cyber criminals is becoming more and more commercialised, says a Europol European Cybercrime Centre report.

The IOCTA (Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment) suggested that products are being developed underground for  cyber criminals – a model that the organisation believes stands as an advanced and effective platform.

Due to this progression, it is easier for those who lack technical expertise to commit a digital crime.

The report further addresses the misuse of genuine tools and services, such as virtual currencies, encryption, and anonymisation, along with the exploitation of ‘darknets’ used for illegal trading in stolen goods, weapons and drugs, and theft of payment card and personal data.

The hidden web is playing a significant role in the advancement of cyber criminal activity, and has made the task of combating it far tougher, said the report.

Europol’s director, Rob Wainwright, said:

“The inherently transnational nature of cyber crime, with its growing commercialisation and sophistication of attack capabilities, is the main trend identified in the IOCTA.

“It means issues concerning attribution, the abuse of legitimate services, and inadequate or inconsistent legislation are among the most important challenges facing law enforcement today.”

It is not only difficult for the police to tackle, but also businesses and organisations trying to prevent breaches. They can only try to match the new level of cyber crime sophistication by reprioritising IT security recruitment and bringing on board suitable personnel with the knowledge and skills to prevent in-house systems from falling foul of attacks.