Cybercriminal Ecosystem DNA: Finding Strength and Resilience in Diversity

During my presentation we will explore the evolution of the dark-web from inefficient peer-to-peer “enterprises” in its early days, to the highly specialized, robust economy it is today with diverse, niche supporting infrastructure. We will follow in the footsteps of online fraudsters, reviewing the sophisticated tools used to obfuscate unlawful activity, profile vendors of shipping and banking mules, including their recruitment technics, and dissect the economic model for stolen goods. We will also outline essential support-services, which help miscreants who reside in distant corners of the world to target individuals and organizations in Western Europe, North America, and Oceania.

Finally, we will shed light on the operations of the biggest underground marketplaces, specializing in the resale of compromised payment information. This will include providing real-time statistics on daily sale volume and outline staggering profit levels, rivaled only by money earned by the Colombian drug smugglers and Ukrainian firearm vendor.