Report finds that Brazilian cybercrime sounds a warning for SA
Why would this be relevant locally you may ask? As an emerging market Brazil's threat landscape has borne striking resemblances to South Africa's. In the report threat researchers highlighted unique characteristics of the Brazilian underground, including the use of popular platforms to commit fraud, in addition to price lists for illegal tools and resources to commit cyber crime.
In the report, Trend Micro's researchers have highlighted the continuing maturity of the Brazilian underground despite the lack of development in available tools and tactics. The Brazilian cyber criminal underground is similar to others, like those that exist in China and Russia, and is an example of the tactics that cyber criminals are using in emerging markets.
It possesses unique characteristics like the use of popular social media platforms - Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Skype, WhatsApp - to commit fraud instead of hiding deep in the recesses of the Web with tools that ordinary users normally don't have access to.
Tools and training services for cyber criminal wannabes
"What's even scarier is that Brazilian cybercriminals are offering tools and training services for cybercriminal wannabes. What this means is that cyber criminals are catching on to the fact that there are opportunities closer to home as long as you know where to look - and for South Africans this means that an increase in cyber-security brawn should be organised sooner rather than later," said Gregory Anderson, Country Manager of Trend Micro South Africa.
Some of the product offerings in the Brazilian cyber criminal underground include banking Trojans, business application account credentials, online service account credential checkers, phishing pages and phone number lists.
Anderson added: "The modern cybercriminal is realising the financial gains available from training 'cybercriminal wannabes'. With particular reference to Brazil, any person interested in becoming a cyber criminal can get undetectable (FUD) crypter programming and fraud training in the form of how-to videos with support services via Skype.
The Dark Web
"The Brazilian underground reinforces the need for protection against cyber criminals who use the Dark Web to conduct business and serves as a warning to South Africans to be more aware online now, than ever.
"Similar to Brazil, the recent collapses in the South African banking industry point to the fact that cyber criminals are starting to see South Africa as a hotbed for cyber crime. More and more consumers are being subjected to spamming with phishing tactics, data breaches of their online accounts and identity theft through cyber crime.
"South Africans can learn something from the tactics of cybercriminals in Brazil as both regions are emerging hotbeds for cyber crime where many consumers are unfamiliar with how to protect themselves and their data in the virtual world," ended Anderson.
This report is a component of Trend Micro's Cybercriminal Underground Economy Series, which chronicles how the cybercriminal underground is thriving and evolving, as the number of victims continues to grow through both identity and financial theft. Additional details regarding the Brazilian underground can be found in this blog post.
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