Cybercrime-As-a-Service Takes Off 113
pnorth writes "Malware writers that sell toolkits online for as little as $400 will now configure and host the attacks as a service for another $50, according to email offers cited by security experts. A technical account manager at authentication firm Vasco said that cyber crime is becoming so business-like that online offerings of malicious code often include support and maintenance services. He said 'it was inevitable that services would be sold to people who bought the malware toolkits but didn't know how to configure them. Not only can you buy configuration as a service now, you can have the malware operated for you, too.'"
It's a franchise business model (Score:5, Funny)
And given that it's a franchise business model, I guess I'd like to know two things: are there delivery guarantees and does Uncle Enzo know about this?
My thoughts on this article. (Score:2, Funny)
This whole article is based on some blog posting of an email that is offering a trojan toolkit and hosting for it.
We do not know if the email is legit or fake.
This was pimped at some security convention as proof that security online has somehow changed recently. Of course the people discussing it have a motive to make money of the folks who buy security services/software for their companies.
I find this article to be of little value, nothing revolutionary was mentioned, and on the whole barely worth posting to slashdot.
Bastards (Score:5, Funny)
Closed-source malware hurts the developer community!
I demand FOSS malware!
Underground Revenue (Score:2, Funny)
The FBI and CIA really need to do something about this. The revenue generated by spamming and malware could be going directly to funding terro... aww, who am I kiddin, the FBI and CIA already knows that terrorism gets all of its funding by pirating movies and music.
And even if it ISN'T fake. (Score:5, Funny)
This whole article is based on some blog posting of an email ... We do not know if the email is legit or fake. ... This was pimped at some security convention ... Of course the people discussing it have a motive to make money ...
And even if they're being honest:
Any bets whether they found one of the law-enforcement "sting" operations?
Re:Rooted. (Score:1, Funny)
It's true (Score:5, Funny)
The hours aren't great, and the severance package is well, horrible, BUT it does have the advantage that I can send any cases over to the hitma^W ahem Planned Termination and Collections department. Customers are so much more respectful somehow. Maybe I should post this anonymously.
Re:You really know when its a business... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Honesty? (Score:5, Funny)
Will they even be honest enough to give you the service or support you paid for? I wouldn't even trust them that far.
I'm not very familiar with people who make malware, but I'd imagine/hope the "support" would look something like this:
Customer: Yes, I'm having problems with your product, the Malwarator 1000
Anonymous support: LOL FUCK YUO NOOB!!1
If it offends any malware writers to be stereotyped like that, particularly the guys behind antivirus 2009, give me your home address and I'll mail you an apology.
Re:You really know when its a business... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:You really know when its a business... (Score:5, Funny)