The global rate of cybercrime is rising. Cybercriminals exhibit no indications of slowing down, as evidenced by the recent rise in harmful web extensions (especially in the US) and the persistence of risky phishing and malware attacks—in part because of the quickly expanding Crimeware-as-a-Service (CaaS) sector.
These terms, which also go by the names malware-as-a-service and cybercrime-as-a-service, describe the developing and incredibly lucrative practise of offering cyber goods and services to other criminals on the dark web. CaaS enables nearly anyone to buy or rent software capable of distributing harmful malware in a matter of minutes, eliminating the need to acquire the technical know-how necessary to support large-scale attacks.
For instance, attackers can now purchase phishing kits for as little as $40, which deceive victims into clicking links or accessing malicious websites that then infect their devices. On the dark web, malicious software is also easily accessible for larger-scale attacks. The Eternity Stealer, an infostealer accessible for just $260 a year and capable of extracting usernames, emails, and credit card details, is one well-known and frequently-sold malware with recent significant usage.
The expansion of this criminal ecosystem, which sees new CaaS products appear on a regular basis, poses a serious threat to consumer safety and privacy. Users are sharing more information online than ever before, from social networking and online shopping to working and studying from home, and the CaaS market makes this information more susceptible to attackers.
Market competition will probably increase demand for new and more sophisticated spyware, leading to the emergence of next-generation dangers that even the most informed consumer will have difficulties identifying.
The average family hasn't made the same investments in cybersecurity practises as enterprises have, making them great candidates for the inflow of bad actors that CaaS permits. Although it may not seem like a high priority for hackers, consumers who are at home using their phone or computer to browse the internet are actually much simpler targets. Many cybercriminals have increased their consumer attacks, seeing home networks as the ideal window to access far more protected business networks, especially with the continued use of remote work.
We anticipate industry growth in the upcoming years, particularly around novel and emerging platforms like bitcoin and the metaverse, even though the CaaS business is expanding in traditional regions of the criminal world. By advocating for more cyber education and awareness, training adult users on how to spot common risks like phishing, and instilling a culture of safety in the next generation from an early age, we can proactively seek to limit the harm it causes.
The next stage is to implement the same calibre of cybersecurity measures across household networks that businesses do. The vulnerability of consumers to cybercrime has never been greater, so it is time for them to make the investments in defences required to thwart upcoming attacks before they fall prey, comprising three essential components:
Endpoint protection system
Endpoint security is the best choice for home users to defend themselves against next-generation online attacks. These systems are made to protect the user device endpoints, which are frequently used by hackers as entry points and are used to communicate with other devices and end users over a network.
Endpoint security measures, which were once regarded to be primarily useful for businesses, are now becoming increasingly important for consumers, especially in light of the rising number of hacker attempts to access corporate networks via home networks.
DNS filtering
The IP address that computers use to load a webpage is translated from the domain name of a website via the domain name system (DNS). Customers can block suspicious URLs, stop hackers from tracking their behaviour, and filter out explicit information by using a DNS filter, which is readily available online. As a result, browsing is more safe and worry-free overall.
Use of VPN
Consumers' online activity is accessible to their internet service provider (ISP), search engines, governmental organisations, and any websites they visit, regardless of where or how they use the internet, whether at home or through a public Wi-Fi network. The IP address of the user's device is still accessible even when utilising a private mode on browsers, proving that this is true.
The only effective option to maintain online privacy is to use a VPN, which uses encryption technology to mask users' identities. VPNs are simple to set up and use, allowing customers to surf privately, bypass geo-blocks, and access content from all over the world.
As long as consumers do not invest in better cyber understanding and tools, the CaaS business will expand. However, we do not have to all become victims. Let us pause this narrative and use this opportunity to increase home user cyber education and protections, making the internet a safer and more pleasurable environment for all.
