Internet crime becoming major commercial activity

Internet crime is becoming a major commercial activity, a report by the security firm, Symantec, has revealed.

London, Sept 17 : Internet crime is becoming a major commercial activity, a report by the security firm, Symantec, has revealed.

Millions of email addresses are being sold over the Internet and details of bank accounts and credit cards are being offered on underworld auction sites, the firm said.

Trade in commercial software used by criminals to launch attacks on websites is also showing a rising trend, and criminals are using trusted sites like MySpace and Facebook to launch attacks on users' computers, it added.

The BBC's technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said: "Until recently young hackers who spread viruses or launched attacks on computer networks were bent on mischief rather than money making".

"However, this latest report suggests such attacks are now part of a multi-billion dollar criminal industry. It highlights online discussion boards where members buy and sell the kind of information that enables identity theft," Cellan-Jones said.

Cellan-Jones cited reports of sellers offering everything from 100million email addresses to bank logins and credit card details to criminals.

He added phishing kits were also on sale, which enabled the buyers to set up fake banking sites to lure unsuspecting customers.

ANI