Group-IB, a leading Russian cybercrime investigation company, has just published its 2011 report on the “State and trends of the ‘Russian’ digital crime market.”
Russian-speaking hackers – both from Russia and abroad – generated more than one third of the global cybercrime value: they earned an estimated $4.5 billion out of a global “cybercrime market” which amounted to $12.5 billion in 2011. Cybercrime from Russia reached $2.3 billion, doubling from $1.2 billion in 2010, the report reveals.
Online fraud accounted for 41% of cybercrime. Spam comprised 36.1%, while the “internal market,” or “crime-to-crime sales” amounted to 10%, and DDoS attacks made up less than 6%.
According to the report, the major trend is the consolidation of criminal groups. Traditional crime syndicates are beginning to organize the Russian cybercrime rings with data and tools shared between different groups.
The report also includes profiles of several hackers whose names became famous last year.
The report’s researchers propose taking the necessary steps to combat cybercrime: clarification of the language of laws pertaining to cybercrime, an increase of penalties, organization of training programs for officials responsible for investigation and prosecution of cybercrime, and closer international cooperation.
