Inside the cyber crime economy
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Stolen credit card data sells for as little as $2 online, a Panda Labs investigation finds
There are more than 50 dedicated online stores through which cyber criminals can purchase stolen data including bank and credit card details, according to an investigation by security software vendor Panda Labs.
The investigation found that stolen data is available for as little as $2. The price of bank details depends on the account balance and whether the owner has a history of online shopping, it found.
Botnets – networks of hijacked computers used in spamming campaigns – can be rented for prices starting at as little as $15.
Panda Labs says that owners of the websites operate like legitimate online retailers, and even advertise on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
“This cyber criminal black market caters to buyers’ needs just as any other business, and functions in similar ways,” wrote Panda Labs’ technical director, Luis Corrons, in a blog post. “Since there is a great deal of competition in this industry, the rule of supply and demand ensures that prices are competitive, and operators even offer bulk discounts to higher-volume buyers.”
