Internet crooks have developed into mature business people, claims a new report. Peter Moore reports.

A report released by Cisco Systems, the giant US networking multinational, has warned of the growing sophistication of cyber criminals.

The report claims that online crooks are increasingly adopting proven business techniques that enable them to work more efficiently, make more money and fool more people.

‘Capitalism is a powerful force,’ said Patrick Peterson, a spokesman for the company in their mid-year security report. ‘These criminal types are collaborating with one another… sharing resources, renting out botnets and forming alliances.’

The report depicts a radically different criminal type. No longer do they operate from underground dens, but they work in offices and apartments, demonstrating the type of thinking that would more often be associated with MBA students, not the members of a criminal gang.

The report says that online criminal gangs are now dynamic and fast-thinking. They have the resources and experience to seize opportunities offered by breaking news stories – the most recent example of which is the story of Michael Jackson’s sudden death.

‘We use Michael Jackson as a quintessential example,’ said Mr. Peterson. ‘When the media was in the air and scrambling to cover his death, the bad guys were coming up with creative news copy that tried to persuade users to click on a photo, video or memorabilia to trick the user onto an infected site.’

And Cisco said it had detected a rise in the number of such malicious tricks over the past few months. In May 2009, 249 billion spam messages were sent across the Internet, the third highest volume in history.

Although the report depicted a gloomy picture, amid rising global threats from an increasingly organised criminal element, Mr. Peterson argued that the past year had seen many improvements antivirus, anti- spam and anti-phishing technology.

Cisco’s position was backed by Kenneth Silva, the Chief Security Officer of Verisign Inc. In response to the Cisco report he said:

‘I don’t know how much money has to be stolen or how many people have to be hurt emotionally and physically before someone figures out there is a real problem here.’

image credit: mkosut