The Crime Report (https://thecrimereport.org/category/cybercrime/)
A coordinated 10-month effort on three continents has taken down a major drug and firearm ring operating on the Darknet, the murkiest area of cyberspace, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday. Some 150 individuals were arrested, including 65 in the U.S.
As part of the latest overhaul by the Biden administration aimed at treating cyber threats as a top-tier national-security issue, the State Department is creating a new bureau of cyberspace and digital policy to be led by a Senate-confirmed ambassador-at-large and a new, separate special envoy for critical and emerging technology.
An attack directly after a natural disaster could create a domino effect leading to a loss of electrical power, water, and disruption of telecommunications and other infrastructure, according to Pew Stateline.
At $600 million, the volume of suspected ransomware payments is likely to double what it reached last year.
Since July 2020, the Justice Department has brought over 220 criminal and civil enforcement actions in nearly 20 different types of fraud cases that targeted the elderly, according to the DOJ’s annual report.
An algorithm-based program operated by the UK police identifies youth who have displayed an online interest in cybercrime tools, with a view to staging an early intervention. Such “predictive policing” technologies, which are also used to identify potential gang members, have potentially harmful impacts, writes a London solicitor.
As Congress funnels $1 billion in resources to state and local government cyber infrastructure, President Joe Biden is focusing on measures to protect schools from cyber attacks.
The new team will go after the financial entities that enable online criminality through cryptocurrency exchanges. The team will be under the supervision of Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite Jr. and will also help to trace and recover assets lost to fraud and extortion.
TikTok challenges have incited acts of vandalism throughout Georgia schools, with some teachers worrying that a recent “slap-a-teacher” challenge will make violence the next step.
The new rules are intended to increase major pipeline company’s defenses, but some experts argue that they are vague.