NESTA Crime Online - University of Brighton Repository
NESTA Crime Online - University of Brighton Repository
NESTA Crime Online - University of Brighton Repository
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Figure 6: Origin and destination <strong>of</strong> phishing attacks<br />
Origin <strong>of</strong> phishing attacks Destination <strong>of</strong> phishing attacks<br />
Source: Arbor Networks (http://www.arbornetworks.com/).<br />
Each region has its own digital ecosystem – or networks – and has developed<br />
technological capabilities according to their available skills, domestic context and local<br />
vulnerabilities. These have been characterised by some reports, 80 and can be<br />
summarised as follows.<br />
(A) The United States is still the major generator <strong>of</strong> malware and according to the<br />
latest Symantec report it is still the country with the most underground servers (hosting<br />
41 per cent <strong>of</strong> the total servers observed by Symantec from 2007 to 2008). 81 In 2006<br />
the United States was reported as the top country in the world hosting web-based<br />
malware. However, other reports argue that this position has been overtaken by China<br />
in 2007. 82<br />
(B) Much attention is placed on China when considering the future <strong>of</strong> cybercrime.<br />
China has more than 137 million computer users, one-quarter <strong>of</strong> whom play online<br />
games, and cybercriminals are feeding on this massive interest. Chinese hackers are<br />
currently focused on developing the Trojans that lift personal information from online<br />
80 MacAfee, (2008), “One Internet, many worlds”, Sophos Security Threats reports (2007, 2008).<br />
81 Symantec, (2008), “Symantec Report on the Underground Economy”, July 2007–June 2008. However, the<br />
report does not provide a total number <strong>of</strong> underground economy servers on which the study is based upon.<br />
82 Sophos Security Threats reports (2007, 2008).<br />
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