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New study overturns assumptions about cybercrime – your country might be a major player.
In a recently peer-reviewed study published in the Public Library of Science, an international team of researchers has released the first-ever ‘World Cybercrime Index‘.
This study offers an unprecedented ranking of nations with the most significant cybercrime threats. Russia takes the top spot, with Ukraine, China, the USA, Nigeria, and Romania following. The UK ranks eighth.
The Index, is unique as it relies on insights from those at the forefront of cybercrime combat. Researchers surveyed 92 leading cybercrime experts worldwide, including intelligence specialists and investigators. These experts assessed five major cybercrime categories: technical products/services, attacks and extortion, data/identity theft, scams, and cashing out/money laundering.
They ranked countries based on the impact of hacking, and technical prowess of their cybercriminals.
Co-author Dr. Miranda Bruce, of the University of Oxford and UNSW Canberra, sees the Index as a watershed moment:
This research pulls back the curtain on cybercrime, allowing us to strategically target resources instead of spreading efforts too thin,” Dr. Bruce states. “By understanding the geography of cybercrime and how countries specialize in different offenses, we can move toward more effective countermeasures.
Discussing The Results
While some top-ranked countries were expected, others raised eyebrows. DomainTools VP of Research and Data, Sean McNee, notes an important distinction:
When evaluating cybercrime groups in locales such as Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea, it is always challenging to determine if groups are operating purely on their own accord or operating on behalf of a nation-state sponsor.
This complexity underscores why countries like Nigeria, India, and Brazil become particularly interesting case studies.
Nigeria, for example, scored highest in the scams category, demonstrating that advanced technical skills aren’t always the driving force behind cybercrime. However we should applaud the nation’s recent efforts to improve cybersecurity.
Romania‘s appearance at number six was kind of unexpected. Chester Wisniewski, a cybersecurity expert at Sophos, explains:
Romania has always had elevated cybercrime activity … likely due to its well-educated population and proximity and relationships with neighboring cybercrime states like Ukraine, Russia, and Moldova.
Chester also added:
While Romania cooperates with takedowns, their approach to cybercrime may be less proactive than some nations.
PS: What can I say, as a Romanian I am proud and ashamed at the same time.