Phishing - Evolution
Last updated
Last updated
In late 2003, phishers registered dozens of domains that resembled legitimate sites such as eBay and PayPal. They used e-mail programs to send fraudulent e-mails to PayPal customers. These customers were directed to hacker sites and asked to update their credit card and other credentials.
In early 2004, phishers enjoyed considerable success, particularly in attacking banking sites and their customers. Pop-up windows were used to obtain sensitive information from victims.
Between May 2004 and May 2005, around 1.2 million users in the USA suffered losses caused by phishing, for a total of around $929 million. Organizations lose around $2 billion a year to phishing.
Phishing is officially recognized as a fully organized part of the black market. Specialized software capable of processing phishing payments is appearing on a global scale, externalizing a huge risk. This software is used in phishing campaigns by organized criminal gangs.
At the end of 2008, bitcoin and other crypto-currencies were launched. Transactions carried out using malware can now be secure and anonymous, changing the game for cybercriminals.
