Would-be cybercriminals only need $10 to send distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that could cripple an organization, according to a recent research report.
Security firm Armor provided an in-depth examination of the emerging cybercrime-as-a-service sector in “The Black Market Report: A Look Inside the Dark Web.” Instead of trying to steal data or cause damage for their own purposes, the report found, some threat actors are now offering their services on demand.
Cybercriminals For Hire
For this study, Armor monitored underground forums and markets during the fourth quarter of 2017. The report suggested that cybercriminals for hire take their work very seriously, whether it’s packaging script kiddies into affordable bundles, tutoring customers on how to make the best use of their tools or offering after-sale support.
While an hour-long DDoS attack only costs $10, a day-long attack might cost $200, the report found. Cybercriminals also offer three month’s use of a remote desktop protocol (RDP) to break into an individual victim’s machine for $35, while more sophisticated exploit kits such as Disdain range from $500 a week to $1,400 a month. Not surprisingly, banking Trojans were among the priciest weapons, available for $3,000 at the low end and $5,000 at the high end.
Criminals aren’t just selling ways to steal data, however. They’re also making credit card details and bank card information available for purchase, with Visa and Mastercard data going for as little as $7. Again, prices go up as the information becomes more detailed and personally identifiable. In fact, some fraudsters will charge an additional $15 to verify a bank information number (BIN).
Cybercrime-as-a-Service Lowers the Barrier to Entry
As cybercrime-as-a-service becomes more pervasive, many threat actors are increasingly trying to show that they are as easy to work with as they are powerful. Security firm Proofpoint recently reported that one such service, BlackTDS, runs malvertising and other spam campaigns on behalf of customers who don’t have their own server or the necessary technical background.