This is a pretty interesting article that has a lot of great points in regards to how online criminals and crime has evolved over the years. Probably one of the biggest (and scariest) changes that has occurred over the years is the mindset. What used to primarily be for curiosity and personal challenges is now a business for making a profit. Tools are now so advanced that completely inexperienced people can how hack into systems and steal credit cards without knowing what they are doing, which can lead to more damage than was intended.

If the public’s image of the online criminal — the brilliant but maladjusted teen breaking into systems just to prove he can — were ever true, those days are long gone.

Not long after people first figured out how to break into computer systems, they started creating tools to make it easier for themselves; not long after that, those tools made their way into the hands of people who could use them without really understanding how they worked.

Today, few malware developers use their own code. They write it for the same reason commercial software developers do: to sell it for a healthy profit. If you’ve ever bought anything online, buying from them may be disconcertingly familiar. If you want to break into a computer or steal credit card numbers, you can buy the necessary software online, just like almost anything else. More than that, you can find user friendly, point-and-click attack applications that have been pre-tested and reviewed by experts, and read through customer feedback before making your purchase.

You might even be able to buy technical support or get a money back guarantee. Some developers offer their malware through a software-as-a-service model. If you prefer an even more hands-off approach, you can simply buy pre-screened credit card numbers and identity information itself, or sign a services agreement with someone who will do the dirty work for you. As in many other industries, money has given rise to professionalism. [more]

Tags: Computer Protection