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Globalisation and Its Malcontents: Mexico, India and Africa Will Be New Epicenters of Internet Crime
Posted by Wilson Rothman at 1:45 AM on January 19, 2008
Computer viruses no longer come from the US or Europe; the hottest hotbeds of hackerdom may be in China and Russia now, but even that will shift. Soon, the most dangerous internet criminals might hail from Mexico, India and Africa, says a new study. Shouldn't somebody call Nick Negroponte?
Security specialists at F-Secure have drawn up a report with three maps that create—perhaps unintentionally—a compelling narrative of the way malware reflects the changing economic situation around the globe.
Back in the day (1986 to 2003), computer viruses mainly came from developed, predominantly white regions, US, Europe and Australia, along with India. There were anomalies like the Philippines-originated "Love Bug," but by and large, it seemed computer viruses could be chalked up as a by-product of the technological success of the post-industrial world. The hackers themselves were effete, tea-sipping "hobbyists," out to perfect their skills—not steal millions.
Next came the pros from Eastern Europe, China and Brazil. For the past four or five years, it's been a full-on assault from the regions where high-level computer skills are plentiful, but legit employment opportunities like those found at Redmond, Mountain View or Cupertino are slim to none. Broadband roll-out and a border-free internet have given these guys plenty of opportunities for targeted attacks with cash money—okay, credit-card and bank-account info—as the deliberate end result.
In the future, though, new e-criminals will most likely operate out of regions that seem a bit more surprising, such as Mexico and Africa. Part of the reason is that internet usage is fast increasing in those areas, while the requisite IT job growth or technological-age legal system that naturally keep the ruffians in check are not developing as fast. Pour a little political discord on top of that, and you've got one hell of a haven for hackers.
India will also see a resurgence in criminal activity, mainly because the job opportunities will never keep up with the number of people being trained with high-level computer skills, in spite of the country's rapid growth.[F-Secure]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
ninjakamster
Posted 3:07 AM 19/1/08
I've never heard of any viruses, malware, etc coming from India, or is it just me?
ninjakamster
Hiphopopotamus
Posted 3:07 AM 19/1/08
That western spot is totally Texas... let's get 'em!!
Hiphopopotamus
Wilson Rothman
Posted 3:07 AM 19/1/08
@Palestina: That'd be China. Apparently that threat is not going to go away anytime soon.
Wilson Rothman
Palestina
Posted 3:07 AM 19/1/08
What's that big spot on Asia? Mongolia????
Palestina
Marco
Posted 12:17 PM 18/1/08
Dear Kind Sir/Madam,
Allow me to introduce myself. I am Deepayan Gangopangay, assistant to the governor of the state of Uttarakhand. I need your help with a financial matter that will be to your benefit. Please reply to me with all your personal financial information so we can begin this transaction.
Marco
theespacepope
Posted 11:51 AM 18/1/08
Maps with dots, the twenty first century is truly upon us.
theespacepope
OldSchoolGadgetLover
Posted 11:33 AM 18/1/08
No, I think it's Northern Mexico... wait, that is Texas.
OldSchoolGadgetLover
Kaiser-Machead
Posted 11:30 AM 18/1/08
Send them Morgellons disease!
Kaiser-Machead
OldPunk
Posted 6:06 AM 19/1/08
So, Russia and South America will not host hackers and phishers anymore? What, did they become filthy rich recently?
OldPunk
Mandatory_Field
Posted 7:06 AM 19/1/08
@ninjakamster: One of the first PC viruses ever was the Pakistani "Brain" virus, which came from that part of the world....
Mandatory_Field
rubu
Posted 7:06 AM 19/1/08
USA is the largest user of the Internet but the most amount of hackers this beyond its borders. We can see it in the recruitment of Microsoft and Linux programmers who mostly come from India
rubu
miguelon918
Posted 5:14 PM 18/1/08
You better start to treat me a lot better or.. you know i live in Mexico ¬¬
miguelon918
akmarksman
Posted 4:31 PM 18/1/08
hello sir/madam,my name is juan valdz and I need your help in a urgent matter..you qualify for a free platinum card which allows you to shop at our store where there is f*ree viagra and there is a check for you in the amount of 20million british pounds because the government has been overthrown and prince habib al-asalad needs your help
akmarksman
whiskey
Posted 6:05 PM 19/1/08
So... Now it seems that our particular branches will be learning English (Ingleñol, Engrish... however you may call it). You would have thought that people by know would have learned by now, right?
Oh... yes, that's right, THIS is what Jobs means when he says that nobody reads anymore!!!
Now, unless you want a degree at a foreign country or you need a green card, most americans will be safe (i guess... you never know with this guys anyways, look at their president).
whiskey
nosauten
Posted 6:05 PM 19/1/08
@akmarksman: Yes. Your offer sounds great. Where do I sign up. Here, let me give you my bank account number so you can deposit the sum of 20,000,000 british pounds for me to keep safe for you.
PS. I am sorry for your loss, General Ubuntu, your beloved former father-in-law, head of Lagos. Please, deposit your funds into my bank account while you flee to the United Kingdom under exile with your wife and two sons. Once agan, I am sorry for you loss.
nosauten
amiash
Posted 2:06 PM 20/1/08
ha! i knew it!
amiash
DJTripleRRR
Posted 12:06 PM 21/1/08
Hahaha Africa! Take that!
The place with like the highest crime rate is making it to the Internet scene. Take this virus from Xoxobe this malware from Mokhane and this worm from Noxolo!
DJTripleRRR