The Anatomy of a Cybercriminal Startup

Outlined in the National Cyber Security Centre’s “Cyber crime: understanding the online business model,” the structure of a cybercrime organization is in many ways a lot like a regular tech startup. There’s a CEO, developer, and if there are enough funds, an IT department.

However, one role outlined on an infographic on page nine of the report that was a surprise and does not exist in legitimate businesses. This role is known as a “money mule.” Vulnerable individuals are often lured into these roles with titles such as “payment processing agents” or “money transfer agents.”

But when “money mules” apply for the job and even after they get the job, they’re not aware that they are being used to commit fraud. Therefore if cybercriminals get caught, “money mules” might also get in trouble with law enforcement. The “money mule” can expect a freeze on his bank account, face possible prosecution, and might be responsible for repaying for the losses. It might even be on your permanent record.

Other articles and threads discussed:

Avoiding phish scams, with @swiftonsecurity
Equifax CEO says one IT pro caused the breach, with @patio11
How secure is iphoneX?

Tool of the week: SPF Translator

Panelists: Cindy Ng, Mike Buckbee, Kilian Englert, Mike Thompson